Making Personal Sense in the Darkness OVEMBER, Our Wounds and Original Conditions by CYNTHIA Shape the Tale That Will Be Our Life

ISSUE 26 VOLUME 7 Proudly Serving Celts in North America Since 1991 NOVEMBER 2017 The Season of Samhain: Making Personal Sense in the Darkness OVEMBER, Our wounds and original conditions By CYNTHIA shape the tale that will be our life. with its chill WALLENTINE Tis’ the season. Find your own myth in and colour, the chapters of your life so far. Think of your favorite movie, book, or has arrived story what attracts you to the narra- Do the same things happen over and Nonce more. tive? Yearning, recognition, tension? over? Or do some things never happen at all? What does it mean to you, What about the characters? Do you your family your future? faithfully see each movie role played What is the circuitous route that has led by a particular actor, do you like mov- you to the crossroads in which you now In the Celtic calendar, November ies about underdogs, or villains, or world- stand? While we are alive, every day 1 is the beginning of the New Year. ending aliens? What’s in it for you? begets new breath and new choices. The sphere of the Samhain season You are the main character in the story The residue of the growing season lies is the darkest of the year, and that will someday be your obituary. in the ashes of the great Samhain fire. marks the beginning of winter. How you navigate your time, with Sift, remember, ask – what fuels your It is a time for tales told above gusts of whom you share that time, your words, life? What drives you on? wind and beyond empty fields. and your actions create the narrative of your existence. Have you seen it someplace before? Not brightening until the winter solstice, The ash of the old will fertilize new this season is clear only in its ambiguity When you look outward at the stories come spring. and moody atmosphere. and actors that attract you what about them is similar to your own life? Take what is given, but watch your No better time to take a look into a dark storyline. The cycle of Harry Potter stories ap- crystal, to find your edges, see the past, If it is repetitive, hurtful, or stalled think and guess at the future. peal to many people for the universal theme of the orphan hero. about how you might write the next November, and the season of Samhain, chapter as we embark on a new year. The downtrodden boy who grows to be is the traditional time of divination and Darkness is forgiving, smudges and storytelling in Ireland. very special, and saves his world not THE ANCIENT ART OF IRISH STORYTELLING: “Poets and only by his actions, but literally via the mistakes, big and small, no longer mat- storytellers, homespun, humble carriers of an ancient culture, While a good tale is welcome any time violence installed within him when he ter. preserved until a century ago an oral tradition (seanchas) and of year, the end of the growing season was made an orphan. Acknowledge the damage, and if you means all things go to ground, and that an oral literature unrivalled in western Europe. Kuno Meyer (a We all carry wounds, some are ulti- can, let it go, and try and live more fully includes to the root and soil of human in the present with hope for the future. German scholar, distinguished in the field of Celtic philology experience. mately mortal. Often they form scar and literature), in a memorable phrase called the written lit- tissue, and impede our movement and The most important story you can tell erature of medieval Ireland ‘the earliest voice from the dawn While the tales of Fionn mac Cumhail capabilities. this season is yours. of West European civilization’.” and CúChulainn are unmatched, the myth of individual life is as deep as Other times they burn white hot until [For more on the ancient Irish art of – J.H. Delargy The Gaelic Storyteller, Connla’s Well, but rarely considered that age or addiction slows mind and gait, storytelling told around the fireside, Sir John Rhýs Lecture, 1945 way. and the soul turns bitter and hopeless. see page 16.]

HIGHLIGHTS INSIDE THIS ISSUE

SCOTTISH POLITICIAN MHARI BLACK FIGHTS FOR JUSTICE FOR OVERSEAS BRITISH PENSIONERS READ MORE ON PAGE 8 • WELSH LABOUR POLITICIAN FOUND DEAD AFTER SUSPENSION OVER SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS READ MORE ON PAGE 8 PHOTO: William Donnellan • TADHG EGAN, outgoing 2017 IRISH PRIME MINISTER LEO VARADKAR chairman of the Vancouver HEADS TRADE DELEGATION TO SEATTLE, WA Irish Sporting and Social Club, READ MORE ON PAGE 12 is presented with a tribute for his work throughout the GAA season by honorary lifetime WIN FREE GIFTS president Jimmy Speiran. Win a $100 Gift Certificate to [Read more on page 13] Black Pudding Imports in Langley, B.C. Check out their weekly sales A REMARKABLE new documentary by Oscar-winning film- on Facebook with additional maker Alex Gibney has brought renewed attention to an un- Christmas stock arriving daily. solved sectarian-gangland slaying in Northern Ireland. No Stone (More information on page 10). Entries by e-mail only. Mark your Unturned examines events which took place on June 18, 1994 entry ‘Black Pudding’. To enter,

in the small village of Loughinisland, Co. Down. The six men e-mail your name and daytime tel- 40009398 killed in the attack are (L-R) [Top] Dan McCreanor, Adrian ephone number (only one entry Publication

Rogan, Patrick O’Hare. [Bottom] Barney Greene, Malcolm per person) by Friday, November Agreement: Mail Jenkinson, and Eamon Byrne. [Read more on page 19] 24 to: [email protected]. PAGE 2 www.celtic-connection.com NOVEMBER 2017 Minister Coveney Announces Five New Irish Diplomatic Missions DUBLIN – Speaking from “The announcement of these new Irish embassies and consulates are important Leinster House on October first steps in expanding our global foot- 10, Ireland’s Minister for For- print and diversifying our trade portfo- eign Affairs and Trade, Simon lio as we prepare for Brexit,” said the Coveney announced the open- minister. “The opening of a Consulate in Vancou- ing of a new Irish consulate ver in western Canada reflects the in Vancouver by the end of strength of the Ireland-Canada relation- Canada has released 2019. ship, the growing economic importance of that region and also the fact that there The Vancouver Consulate will be is a large Irish community now living 10,000 extra working part of five new resident diplo- there. matic missions based in Chile, “This will strengthen our hand when Colombia, Jordan and Mumbai as helping Irish business to take full advan- visas for young Irish part of the Irish Government’s tage of the opportunities offered by the OTTAWA – In good news for The website also noted how immigra- overall Budget 2018 package. EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic tion has enhanced Canadian society. and Trade Agreement, with the Consu- young Irish migrants hoping to Additional funding will be directed to- late serving as a gateway for Irish busi- The statement reads, “The Government SIMON COVENEY Ireland’s wards augmenting Brexit resources, move to Canada, Citizenship Minister for Foreign Affairs and ness to western Canada.” of Canada is committed to an immigra- following recent steps to increase staff and Immigration Canada has tion system that strengthens the Cana- Trade, has announced the numbers working on Brexit at Headquar- The newly-announced Irish diplomatic announced an increase in dian middle class through economic opening of a new Irish consu- ters in Dublin and in major European missions in Chile, Colombia, Jordan, growth, supports diversity and helps late in Vancouver by the end capitals like Brussels, Berlin, Paris and Vancouver and Mumbai will open on a working visas from 300,000 build dynamic and inclusive communi- of 2019. London. phased basis throughout 2018 and 2019. this year to 310,000 in 2018, ties, while maintaining border security, 330,000 in 2019, and 340,000 and to preserving the health, safety and in 2020. security of Canadians. “Our immigration system has made Ireland’s entry to the 2017 EU Film Festival: The visas are available to anyone aged Canada the nation it is today – one that between 18 and 35 and include Young is diverse, prosperous and welcoming to Professional and Working Holiday vi- those in need. ‘In The Name of Peace – John Hume in America’ sas. VANCOUVER – In The Name is the only school to boast two Nobel “Demographics and diverse labour mar- of Peace – John Hume in Prize Laureates – John Hume and The Canadian work permits were re- ket needs drive Canada’s demand for Seamus Heaney. leased on November 6 and allow peo- immigration, but it is our commitment to America, a movie by acclaimed ple to live and work in Canada for up to integration and to helping those in need John Hume is a legendary Irish politi- Irish documentary filmmaker two years, while the International Co- that sets us apart. cian and founding father of civil rights Op visas are valid for up to a year. Maurice Fitzpatrick will screen in the North. “Immigration will continue to play a cru- at Cinematheque in Vancouver Canada is a popular choice for Irish emi- cial role in keeping our country at the He is also the only person to have re- as part of the 20th annual EU Film grants, with thousands of young people forefront of the global economy. ceived the world’s three major peace arriving here each year. Festival on Sunday, December accolades, Nobel Peace Prize, Gandhi “Thanks to immigration, Canada is in a 3 at 2 PM. Peace Prize and the Martin Luther King A statement on the Canadian Govern- better position than other countries, like Award. ment website explains they are expand- our G7 counterparts, to face future la- Maurice Fitzpatrick writes a regular ing their immigration program as fac- bour force challenges arising from our In 2010, John Hume was honoured as column ‘The View from Ireland’ in The tors such as an ageing population and a ageing population.” Celtic Connection. the public’s choice in a poll to find ‘Ire- falling birth rate could pose a threat to land’s Greatest’, ahead of Michael the Canadian economy and workforce For more information about applying for He visited Vancouver in 2013 for the Collins, Mary Robinson, James Connolly needs. a Canadian work visa, check online: screening of his film The Boys of St. and Bono. www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec. Columb which details the story of the boys who attended St. Columb’s Col- Cinematheque is located at 1131 Howe lege, a Catholic boy’s grammar school Street (located between Helmcken & THE film will screen at in Derry, Northern Ireland, in the 1950s. Davie Streets). Calling all Irish seniors Cinematheque in Vancouver on Sunday, December 3 at 2 PM. St. Columb’s College helped shape the Tickets available now at: http:// for a Christmas luncheon lives of several great Irish figures and thecinematheque.ca/eufilmfestival. VANCOUVER – This year’s Irish seniors Christmas luncheon will be held on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown, located at 6083 McKay Avenue in Burnaby. Doors open at 11:30 AM and lunch is served at 12 noon. Seating is limited. The luncheon is hosted by the Irish Heritage Society of Canada and sup- ported by the Emigrant Support Programme with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. Seating is limited so book today! For more information, call George McDonnell at (604) 948-2885.

THE CELTIC CONNECTION

ISSUE 26 VOLUME 7 - Established in 1991 #452 - 4111 Hastings Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 6T7 Tel: (604) 434-3747 • www.celtic-connection.com Maura De Freitas - Publisher - • E-Mail: [email protected] Catholine Butler - Advertising - • E-Mail: [email protected] Colleen Carpenter - Copy Editor • Thary Chhom - Ad Production Distribution: Arlyn Lingat • Allison Moore • Linda Robb • Frank Dudfield in Surrey • Eifion Williams in Burnaby & Coquitlam • Laurie Lang in Coquitlam • Joanne Long in Mission • Bill Duncan in Maple Ridge • Deirdre O’Ruaric in White Rock • Nanci Spieker and Heather Murphy in Seattle • Oliver Grealish in Edmonton. Published 7X per year. Unsolicited submissions welcome but will not be returned. Please retain a copy for your files. Contents copyright 2017 The Celtic Connection. Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of the publisher but rather a reflection of voices within the community. All correspondence must include a name, address and telephone number. Canada Post Canadian Publications Agreement 40009398 NOVEMBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 3 Congratulations to Jack Lee: 2017 Glenfiddich Champion VANCOUVER – Congratulations to Jack Lee winner of this year’s Glenfiddich Championship, placing first in Piobaireachd and second in the MSR competitions in Scotland. Congratulations also to Craig Sutherland for finishing fourth in the MSR. Jack Lee, pipe sergeant of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band since its inception in 1981, was awarded the biggest prize in Highland piping – the 2017 Glenfiddich Solo Piping Championship – on October 28. The prestigious competition was held again in the Great Hall of Blair Castle, situated in the beautiful Perthshire countryside. It was Jack’s second overall Glenfiddich title, and first since winning it in 2003. PHOTO: Wikipedia His entry this year was Lament for the Earl of Antrim. He was the only one of JACK LEE of the SFU Pipe 10 competitors to feature in both prize lists. Band is this year’s Glenfiddich Champion placing first in It was the forty-fourth running of the event, started in 1974, which showcases Piobaireachd and second in the 10 pipers who qualified by merit of results in designated top-tier contests the MSR competitions in Scot- over the previous 12 months, including the 2016 Glenfiddich. land. By winning, Jack gains an invitation to the 2018 competition. PAGE 4 www.celtic-connection.com NOVEMBER 2017 Celtic Colours Festival: ‘Your heart will never leave’ WAS thrilled to be The evening concert was probably the best of the lot! Deep Roots, Many invited to attend Branches started with Mairi Rankin this year’s Celtic (fiddle) and Ailie Robertson (harp) Colours Festival, from the band The Outside Track, I followed by Irish fiddler Fergal Scahill the 21st annual celebration of By (We Banjo 3) and pianist Ryan STEVE the musical roots and spec- Molloy. STEVE EDGE behind the wheel of ‘Mustang Sally’ with the top EDGE tacular scenery of Nova I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many down and ready to take on the Celtic Colours Festival and the Scotia’s Cape Breton island. THE ROGUE notes in such a short space of time! spectacular scenery of Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton island. Margaret and I took the red-eye flight FOLK CLUB After the break, Mairi was joined by on Saturday, October 7, arriving in Syd- Wendy MacIsaac (fiddle) and Mac ney at noon on Sunday. Morin (piano) and then came Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell! We were offered a free upgrade of the rental car from a Kia Rio to a Mustang Michelle and I had met these two at Convertible. No contest! What an the Festival Club the previous night amazing vehicle. (morning!) and I asked Rhiannon to sing her Gaelic puirt a beul. Even using premium gas (at $1.15 per litre) it was well worth it. I wished I’d When she sang this the room went mad! brought driving gloves, though. Had the Here was a young African-American top down most of the time (well, you woman singing in Gaelic a song she’d would, wouldn’t you?) and my hands learned in a North Carolina village were freezing! where they still speak Gaelic! She also danced, fiddled, banjo-ed and generally The Sunday concert we had chosen was brought the house down. What a show! just down the road from our motel in Baddeck, but we had some trouble find- We spent our last full day driving the ing the place. Well, you try asking Siri Cabot Trail to Margaree Harbour, the to direct you to Whycocomagh! wonderful Glenora Distillery and The THE BRILLIANT NEW TRIO of Michael McGoldrick, John Rankin Sisters’ famous Red Shoe in McCusker and John Doyle, one of the featured artists at Celtic The feature artists were the brilliant new Mabou. trio of Michael McGoldrick, John Colours. STEPHEN FEARING, a found- The Big Ceilidh At The Big Fiddle with McCusker and John Doyle, Cape ing member of The Rogue Folk Breton’s Coig (my favourite Canadian J.P. Cormier, Dwayne Cote, Imar, Club, will headline The Rogue Alison Brown Quartet, and Cherish Celtic band), and Garnet Rogers – fundraiser and silent auction making his Celtic Colours debut. The Ladies (with Irish fiddler Nollaig on Saturday, November 25 at Casey in the band!) was another in- When we returned to the Mustang we St. James Hall (3214 West credible concert! A fitting end to our were amazed to see the silver horse 10th Avenue). visit. projected onto the road when we opened the door! The next morning we drove over Kelly’s took the ferry across Bras d’Or Lake Mountain one last time before bidding The next day was another sunny one, and drove to Iona Highland Village, a fond farewell to “Mustang Sally” and and we set off for St. Anne’s Gaelic which recreates living spaces from 250 Celtic Colours and Cape Breton. College at the entrance to the Cabot years of Scottish settlement in Cape Trail for a Brunch and Showcase, head- Breton. The television ads for Cape Breton say lined by Heather Rankin. Great set. “your heart will never leave.” I think What a fine voice she has, and great Local actors in character and period they may be right. fun too. costume are primed with enthralling personal tales of life during the High- You can see over 100 photographic IMAR with Tomas Callister (supreme fiddler with Barrule, from We later made our way to the enor- land clearances and the struggles to memories of our trip on my FlickR page Isle of Man), Adam Rhodes (also from Barrule, on bouzouki), mous Membertou Trade and Conven- establish themselves in the new world. https://flic.kr/s/aHsm6qTxtq uilleann piper Ryan Murphy, Scots concertina wizard Mohsen tion Centre for Thanksgiving dinner and • Amini (Talisk) and England’s Adam Brown (Rura) on bodhran then the Celtic Cabaret, with The Alt I even got to participate in a Milling We had a little reprise of Celtic Col- and guitar. (Irish flautist / singer Nuala Kennedy, Frolic, where local singers chant the ours on November 3 at The Rogue with John Doyle and Eamon rhythmic songs as the workers pound with Cape Breton’s Beolach filling St. the wool onto a wooden table to soften James Hall to the rafters, with fiddles Our last concert of 2017 is the annual There seemed to be less emotional in- O’Leary), Cape Breton fiddler Gypsy Jazz Christmas Special – tensity this time, and Martin Hayes Jennifer Roland, Jordan it for local looms. It’s a wonderful liv- and bagpipes and step-dancing that was ing museum! a constant delight. Cool Yule: Van Django with LJ kept returning to the same tune through- Muscycsyn, and, topping the bill, a Mounteney and Keith Bennett on out the show (well, maybe it’s just me, great set by PEI’s Ten Strings & A We then drove to the east side of the Next up at The Rogue is a Fundraiser Saturday December 9. but I thought it was the same tune! I Goatskin. island to Louisbourg Playhouse – and Silent Auction on Saturday, No- sort of expected someone to repeat erected by Disney as a replica of vember 25 at St. James Hall (3214 West Looking ahead to 2018, we have a great “Number 9, Number 9” or something!). The stage is big and the show was very line-up including Ten Strings & A flashy, including funky LED lights and Shakespeare’s Globe, and given to the 10th Avenue). town as a legacy gift. Goatskin (February 4), Altan (Febru- I spoke to him after the show, and he a smoke machine – which set off the This 30th year of Rogue Folk has been ary 25), and Alasdair Fraser & would absolutely love to come back to fire alarm at the break! Here we saw another fabulous concert, amazing – ranging from sold-out shows Natalie Haas (March 11). The Rogue with Dennis Cahill for a with local songwriter Roger Stone fol- to less-popular ones, amidst extensive duo gig any time. They managed to convince everyone We’re very excited to announce the first to stay in the room, and Rowan Gal- lowed by New England fiddler renovations and fundraising for the Hall. Hanneke Cassel and the new B.C. Fiddle Festival – tentatively ti- He’s also just launched a fascinating lant started the Goats’ set by mimick- With staff changes as well, we found tled The Driven Bow – on the long new quartet where he and Dennis are ing the fire alarm on his fiddle. supergroup Imar (E-mah, not eye- mah): Tomas Callister (supreme fid- ourselves in a bit of a cash flow crisis. weekend February 9-11, 2018. joined by American fiddler Liz On Tuesday we took the Mustang back dler with Barrule, from Isle Of Man), Consequently we have scheduled what Knowles and bass clarinetist Doug will only be the second-ever fundraiser Six B.C. bands will appear at three Wieselman (Laurie Anderson, Lou over Kelly’s Mountain to Sydney for Adam Rhodes (also from Barrule, on evening concerts, and the six featured lobster chowder at the yacht club and bouzouki), uilleann piper Ryan Murphy, for The Rogue (the previous one was Reed etc.) in 2001)! fiddlers will each teach a workshop over • then off to Sydney River’s Our Lady Scots concertina wizard Mohsen the weekend. of Fatima – a huge new church – for Amini (Talisk) and England’s Adam The response from donors has been stu- The top new releases for me of late Songs From Scratch. Brown (Rura) on bodhran and guitar. pendous, and there is a silent auction They are: Latin American fiddler come from PEI’s The East Pointers Virtuosi one and all! with items ranging from weekend re- Kalissa Landa (Locarno), Jocelyn (What We Leave Behind) and Canadian songwriters Lynn Miles, Pettit (Celtic fiddle), Metis fiddler McGoldrick, McCusker & Doyle Bruce Guthro, Cathleen MacLellan, It was quite the finale, I tell you, and treats in Whistler and Mayne Island to superbly-crafted guitars, fiddle lessons, Kathleen Nisbet, Daniel Lapp (Blues (The Wishing Tree). Great ideas for James Keelaghan, Cara Luft and then a long drive back to Baddeck in and B.C. Country Dance), Cam Wilson stocking-stuffers next month! J.D. Edwards had been holed up in a the dark (with the top up!) and great CD bundles – many of them limited edition, signed copies. (gypsy jazz / etc) with Mad Pudding, • resort for a week to write new songs and Gabriel Dubreuil (jazz fiddle) with Hope to see you at The Rogue together. Thursday took us to another fine museum, The Bell Museum in Baddeck, The music will be great, too, with young Early Spirit. Fundraiser on November 25! They presented all these songs over the for a concert with The Small Glories. North Van fiddle genius Gabriel Slainte, Steve Dubreuil kicking things off with a new Full details of all shows can be found two sets. All new, the final one only on the Rogue website P.S. don’t forget to tune in to The written that day, so they all needed song Scots-born Alexander Graham Bell trio, followed by founding Rogue made his home just across the lake from www.roguefolk.com. Saturday Edge On Folk every Sat- sheets to get through it, but it was an Stephen Fearing, and then lovely urday from 8 AM to noon on Baddeck and his incredible feats of en- chanteuse Marin Patenaude teaming • amazing experience. They are such I must admit to being slightly disap- www.citr.ca when I strive to bring great songwriters! gineering and design are celebrated in up with Ben Rogalsky for a set, and you the very best I can dig up in the the museum (including Canada’s first we finish up with a lively dance from pointed with The Gloaming’s concert at The Chan Centre the other week. wide worlds of Celtic, Folk and Roots Wednesday was a glorious day, so we powered aircraft, The Silver Dart). the Honky Tonk Dilettantes. music. NOVEMBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 5 Montreal has redesigned its flag to reflect the role of Indigenous peoples MONTREAL – Montreal has under- taken two gestures in a bid to recon- cile with Indigenous peoples. The city has added a symbol representing First Nations – a white pine – to its flag and coat of arms. The old flag and coat of arms show a fleur-de-lis, a thistle, a rose and a shamrock, which represent the peoples who founded and developed Montreal. The symbol was chosen by a commit- of the United Nations Declaration of In a 1763 letter, he urged the use of tee designated by the Assembly of First the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. biological warfare saying, “You will do Nations of Quebec and Labrador. well to inoculate the Indians by means Montreal will rename Amherst Street, of (smallpox-infected) blankets.” Another change is a plan to rename a located just south of Lafontaine Park street that commemorates an 18th Cen- and stretching over 1.5 kilometres be- Montreal’s flag and coat of arms now tury British general who advocated the tween Sherbrooke and Notre-Dame include a white pine (representing the use of small-pox-infected blankets as a Streets. original Indigenous presence in Mon- weapon during an indigenous rebellion treal), along with symbols representing in 1763. For more than 200 years, the street has the French (the fleur-de-lis), the Eng- commemorated General Jeffrey The announcements were made on lish (the rose), the Scottish (the thistle) Amherst, the British conqueror of Mon- and the Irish (the shamrock). September 13, on the 10th anniversary treal in 1760. Proposed massive condo to rise above famous Irish pub in Toronto Jimmy recently spoke to The Celtic “My sons said if we have to get law- Connection about the changes in his yers it would cost $50,000 to $60,000 neighbourhood and the new develop- to contest it you know. Lawyers don’t ments planned around the business he come cheap and we don’t have that kind established so many years ago. of money.” At the moment he said the situation is Then, he laughed and said, “if the pub in limbo. “Sometime ago the develop- is sold, I may have to go out and look ers made an offer but my sons turned it for a job.” down actually, it’s in limbo now.

[PHOTO: Ciara Gibbons Coyle] JIMMY McVEIGH behind the bar at the oldest Irish pub in Toronto, opened almost 55 years ago.

TORONTO – A Toronto landmark could soon be swallowed up by a towering condo at Rich- mond and Church streets, but the good news for preservation- ists is that it doesn’t look like ARTIST sketch of the proposed condo development that dwarfs the city will lose another historic McVeigh’s, Toronto’s oldest Irish pub. building. The proposed new development, located at 114 and 120 Church Street as well as 59 Richmond Street, is set to rise to 45 storeys or 149.5 metres right above the famous McVeigh’s Irish Pub, whose owners have staunchly refused to sell their property to developers. The legendary Belfast-born owner Jimmy McVeigh was profiled in the May 2017 issue of The Celtic Connection. He declared that at the age of 86 he has no intention of retiring. McVeigh immigrated to Canada in 1956 and opened Toronto’s first Irish pub at 124 Church Street in 1962. Now, 55 years later, he still goes in to work every morning. He also goes in to the pub during the evening three or four times a week to chat with his customers. He says it’s part of his life and reckons he must be the oldest working, hands- on Irish pub owner in Canada. His family have now joined him in the business with his two sons Jimmy Jr. and Paul, along with his grandson Brendan also working at the pub. PAGE 6 www.celtic-connection.com NOVEMBER 2017 Doolin’s Irish Pub: A warm and friendly welcome with great service and a hearty traditional menu

ANCOUVER – Doolin’s Irish Pub has Doolin’s is always a great place to stop by for a delicious meal. They always been a landmark at the corner of Nelson have a traditional menu with hearty fa- vourites such as the steak and Guin- and Granville Street in Vancouver for ness pie, chicken pot pie and Irish stew. the past 15 years and this past June “We always change our menu around V a bit with the seasons,” said Barry. Doolin’s, the Comfort Inn, and the Belmont were “We’re hoping to add a full Irish break- sold – basically the whole building – to new owners. fast if we can source it properly, because if you can’t do it properly and It was a seamless exchange the Irish taste isn’t there...then it’s best By CATHOLINE not do it at all.” and the loyal regular custom- BUTLER ers at Doolin’s would The bar offers a stock of all the regular BARRY WALSH is the Dublin-born general manager of Doolin’s Irish beverages such as the various Irish scarcely have noticed any “We have the same staff Irish Pub in Vancouver. whiskeys along with Guinness and change in the hospitality and and the patrons love Murphy’s. service they have come to ex- Doolin’s as it is, so Doolin’s is one of the few pubs that pect over the years. offer Murphy’s Irish Stout but Guinness, no radical changes of course, is the big seller. On a recent visit, I met Barry Walsh, The pub offers entertainment five nights the Dublin-born general manager at are planned.” a week, and sometimes on a Saturday Doolin’s. Doolin’s and they want to keep it ex- they will have a DJ. Barry extends a very warm welcome actly as it is. They may just freshen it Christmas season is a busy time and and makes you feel right at home the up a bit such as new speakers, some Barry says, “we’ve been booked out minute you come through the door at new wallpaper and furniture, but really for the Christmas party season since Doolin’s. there will be no change at all. last February. There would still be room He comes by this trait naturally since “We have the same staff and the pa- for small parties but not for any larger he started working in the hospitality in- trons love Doolin’s as it is, so no radical groups.” dustry in Dublin at age 18, and he has changes are planned.” • Doolin’s is located at 654 Nelson been at Doolin’s for the past three Then, he laughed and said, “the only real years. Street at the corner of Granville change is that the money goes to a dif- DOOLIN’S has been a Vancouver landmark at the corner of Street. For menus and more infor- Barry said, “the new owners love ferent bank account.” Granville and Nelson Street for the past 15 years. mation, visit: www.doolins.ca. No Uber for Vancouver this winter but plenty of alternatives available By MARK COSTELLO Government was detouring from elec- VANCOUVER – To the dismay of tion pledges promising to bring ride- commuters and businesses in Brit- sharing to Vancouver by the end of 2017. ish Columbia the seasonal wet and cold seem to have emphatically This was concluded after the govern- arrived. ment issued a statement seemingly citing passenger safety issues as the pri- The impending downpours however are mary delay in developing new ride-hail- not bad news for all as there are vari- ing legislation. PHOTO: Recovery Day BC 2017 ous industries in Vancouver looking to THOUSANDS ATTEND Recovery Day 2017 in the rain to show take advantage of the sudden weather Many speculate that these delays are changes. mere attempts to appease the taxi in- support for the #Evidence campaign with the slogan: “We dustry whose votes proved valuable to are the evidence that Recovery does work...today we shared The car-sharing industry is one such the NDP’s success in the last election. our experience, strength and hope.” example that offers an easy service ADVANCED ride-sharing tech- helping to overcome the effects of the Premier John Horgan has recently had winter elements. nology is currently illegal un- to deny such accusations that his par- der B.C. law, one of the last ty’s policy shift serve merely to cater Recovery Day BC 2017: Admittedly, it would be unfair to brand place in North America to to the taxi industry. While such political the sector as completely seasonal. adopt such platforms. manipulation takes place, the fate of ride-sharing in Vancouver remains in Car-sharing vehicles are common fea- a street festival celebration limbo. tures on Vancouver’s roads throughout if in need of a ride in Vancouver, most VANCOUVER – For the past six years, thousands of local the year. However, the rainy winter people resort to hailing a taxi on the It seems that the taxi industry’s foot- season undoubtedly lends a helping hand street or by phone. hold in provincial politics is contributing people have gathered to celebrate recovery from drug and to an already thriving and growing in- The more technologically advanced ride- to keeping services such as Uber and alcohol addiction in the month of September. dustry. Lyft on the outside looking in. sharing apps are currently illegal under Now, more than ever in the midst of the fentanyl opioid overdose crisis, there In early October, Turo – labelled the British Columbia provincial law and the This in turn has contributed to a boom- is an urgent need to show proof that recovery from addiction is possible. airbnb for cars – joined the fleet of com- region remains one of the last places in ing car-sharing industry whose apps and peting car-sharing companies in Van- North America to adopt such platforms. technology greatly exceed that of the It was demonstrated this year with the online #Evidence campaign and the couver. If you are to believe Uber however, this taxi industry. massive turnout at the free Recovery Day BC street festival in New West- is all about to change. minster, B.C. on September 9. There, the car-sharing market already It does seem inevitable that ride-hailing containing Evo, Modo, Car2Go and Susie Heath, head of Uber Canada, apps will one day operate in Vancou- With over 1,100 illicit drug overdoses in B.C. to date this year and 935 over- Zipcar, now has five different compa- stated back in September that each of ver, however with the recent statements dose deaths reported in 2016, the numbers projected to be even more in 2017, nies vying for the business of the city’s the three political parties in British Co- from the NDP Government, any itiner- this gathering to spread the message of hope is a life-saving endeavour. shivering commuters. lumbia had all pledged to bring ride shar- ary for this remains a mystery. If you missed this year’s celebration, follow Recovery Day BC on Facebook ing to the province by the end of 2017. One major catalyst for this success is For the time being it looks like taxis and for information on the September 2018 event at www.facebook.com/ the absence of rival ride-hailing or ride- That same month Uber began a map- car-sharing will have Uber-free roads RecoveryDay. sharing services such as Uber and Lyft ping project of Metro Vancouver. It cer- for at least one more blustery Vancou- If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, reach out for help. in the region – services that dominate tainly seems that Uber is anticipating ver winter. The Orchard Recovery Center is an internationally accredited treatment cen- the transport industries in other North some degree of deregulation but to what • tre located on Bowen Island, just outside Vancouver, which provides a full American cities. extent and under what timeline remains Mark Costello recently moved to Van- complement of treatment options to meet your personal needs. to be seen. couver from Dublin on a two-year Ride-hailing services allow users to or- work permit. He graduated from Trin- For more information, call (604) 947-0420 or visit online at der a ride from their exact location us- In opposition to Uber’s plans, The ity College Dublin with a B.A. in Eng- www.orchardrecovery.com. ing an app on a smartphone. Currently, Globe and Mail reported that the NDP lish Literature & Philosophy. NOVEMBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 7 Highly-respected newspaper editor dies suddenly aged just 36 WESTPORT, Co. Mayo – Tributes poured in following news that 36-year- old Neill O’Neill, the highly-respected editor of The Mayo News, died suddenly on Tuesday, October 10. He was responsible for the management of the west of Ireland newspaper, which is published weekly from its base in Westport. During his tenure, the paper won several international awards for design, layout and content. As news of Neill’s sudden passing spread throughout the county, there was genuine shock and sorrow that some- PHOTO: The Mayo News one so young and so full of life could be Neill O’Neill (36) was managing editor of The Mayo News since taken at such a young age. 2011. He died suddenly at home on Tuesday, October 10, 2017. O’Neill was known in the business com- Colleagues at The Mayo News are re- biggest funerals Westport has ever munity throughout the county through ported to be devastated with the news. seen. Thousands of people turned up at his role as the president of the Cham- In a statement, owners Dermot and the home Neill shared with Emma be- ber of Commerce in Westport and his Natalie Berry along with other mem- fore his removal to St. Mary’s Church voluntary role in a whole host of other bers of staff expressed their sincere in Westport for the funeral mass. condolences to the O’Neill family. community and sporting organisations. Staff of The Mayo News along with He fell ill in the early morning hours at “There is just a complete sense of dis- members of Westport Utd FC, Mayo his home in Rosbeg in Westport, Co. belief that our colleague and dear friend County Council and the Westport Mayo and died a short time later. A post- Neill has passed away,” said colleague Chamber of Commerce formed a guard mortem at Mayo General Hospital re- Michael Duffy. “Neill has been the of honour to escort the cortege. vealed that O’Neill had suffered a brain heart and soul of The Mayo News since he took over as managing editor in 2011, All of the businesses on the two streets hemorrhage. closed up and staff stood outside each having previously worked as a journal- O’Neill is survived by his partner Emma ist with the paper from 2007 to 2009.” premises to pay their respects as the Joyce, parents Colm and Mary, broth- procession passed. O’Neill was buried ers Conor and Finbarr and sisters Aoife The entire town came to an absolute in Aughavale Cemetery. and Orla. standstill on October 17 for one of the PAGE 8 www.celtic-connection.com NOVEMBER 2017 Scottish MP Mhari Black says ‘It is time for ‘Global Britain’ to give all its pensioners a fair deal

DINBURGH – Scottish politician Mhari Despite the fact that contribution to the British state pension is compulsory for Black is the youngest MP elected to the those working in the UK, many are shocked to discover that not everyone UK House of Commons. She is the Mem- is paid equally upon retirement. E ber of Parliament for Paisley and “The most absurd thing is that people Renfrewshire South and was just 20-years-old when with frozen pensions often did not know that their pension would be frozen if first elected in 2015. they retired in some countries abroad,” said Black. Black has a reputation as a strong ad- vocate for social justice and recently “Today, the information available is con- she raised the issue of “frozen” British fusing and largely available online, mak- state pensions paid to citizens now living it difficult for many older people to ing abroad in Commonwealth countries. access and highlighting how bonkers the whole situation is.” The campaign for equality has long been at the forefront of the work by the Ca- The British Government recently an- nadian Alliance of British Pensioners nounced a plan to continue uprating the (CABP), a non-profit organization pensions of all expats living in the EU based near Toronto, Ontario. after Brexit. Over half a million people who have Black said, “It makes no sense that the contributed to their British state pen- government can recognise the undesir- sion (equivalent to the CPP), and this ability of frozen pensions within Europe, includes Canadian nationals who have while continuing to justify it for others lived and worked in the UK, have their elsewhere. British state pensions frozen because “It is absurd that ‘Global Britain’ should they choose to live in Canada. discriminate against its pensioners in this It is particularly interesting to note that way. With British pensioners suffering for those living just across the border in MHARI BLACK is the young- across the world, it is high time the gov- the United States, the British State pen- est MP elected to the UK House ernment acted.” sion is fully indexed every year. of Commons. She has said the • For more information in Canada, call The “frozen” pensions are a fact of life situation with ‘frozen pensions’ CABP toll free: 1-888-591-3964, or in most Commonwealth countries with is absurd. online at www.britishpensions.com. the majority of the pensioners living in Australia or Canada. In a challenge to this policy, Black recently said that half a million British pen- Welsh Labour politician found dead sioners are suffering due to this illogi- cal and antiquated policy. She said given that qualification for a after being suspended over sex allegations state pension is based on National In- CARDIFF – Senior Welsh but to refer the matter to the party. distressing to me. surance contributions made, you would Sargeant had vowed to clear his name. be forgiven for assuming that all Brit- Labour politician Carl “The details of the allegations have yet ish pensioners who have made the re- Sargeant (49) was found dead Paying tribute, the first minister said, to be disclosed to me.” “Carl was a friend as well as a colleague quired contributions can access their full In a statement, Sargeant’s family said British pension equally, regardless of at his home on the morning of and I am shocked and deeply saddened by his death. they were “devastated beyond words” where they live. November 7. at the loss of “the glue that bound us “Bizarrely, this is not the case,” she said. Sargeant, who was removed from of- “He made a big contribution to Welsh together.” “Currently, 1.2 million people receive a fice just days earlier after being accused public life and fought tirelessly for those he represented both as a minister and “Carl was a much loved husband, fa- UK state pension overseas – but with- of sexual harassment in the recent scan- ther and friend. He wasn’t simply a part as a local assembly member.” out any particular logic – 540,000 of dal sweeping British politics. of our family. He was the glue that them are unable to access fully the pen- The Welsh Assembly’s business was bound us together. He was the heart of sions that they paid in for. Sargeant, who was married and had two children, was found dead at his home cancelled as a mark of respect follow- our family. We loved him so very much. For instance, a 90-year-old, whose pen- in Connah’s Quay, Flintshire. ing his death, and meetings the following days were cancelled. “He was the most kind and caring hus- sion has been frozen throughout their band, father, son and friend. We are retirement, will still be receiving a state He was dismissed from his Welsh Gov- ernment job after allegations about his In a recent statement on Twitter, devastated beyond words, and we know pension of just £52 a week compared Sargeant said, “I met with the First our grief will be shared by all those who to the £122 their counterparts living in behaviour were passed to First Minis- CARL SARGEANT (49) was ter Carwyn Jones’ office. Minister today and he informed me al- knew and loved him. countries such as the USA or the EU found dead at his home on the legations had been made about my per- are being paid. Jones had said he felt he had no choice sonal conduct, which was shocking and “We are in shock and grief. We ask that morning of November 7. our privacy is respected at this time.” “Every year, people whose pensions are frozen in this way are forced to return to the UK just to secure a basic income,” said Black. “Unfortunately, this Woman told to stop speaking ‘foreign muck’ means that families are often ripped apart.” She continued, “This week, I met a del- but was actually speaking Welsh... in Wales egation from the International Consor- CARDIFF – A woman in the small vil- muck to my baby. I was speaking “I said to her ‘I think you are misun- tium of British Pensioners, which is lage of Lampeter in Wales was shocked Welsh. In Wales. #givemestrength.” derstood – I am speaking Welsh to my campaigning for the pension rights of as she was confronted when speaking children’. Since her post, Elin’s comment has had all overseas state pensioners. to her daughter in her native language. almost 2,000 retweets and over 3,500 “But she turned on her heels and walked “They told me the distressing story of A 32-year-old mother of three and a likes. away. She didn’t even try and justify Sandra Macleod (86), who was born in Plaid Cymru town councillor, Elin Jones what she had said. “It’s gone a bit ridiculous to be honest,” Glasgow and has lived and worked in was shopping when she was told to said Elin after the incident. “I put it on “Wales and the UK is a multicultural Scotland, paying into the UK pension stop speaking “foreign muck.” Twitter last night and I checked my country and I love that about it in gen- system for most of her life. A resident of Lampeter, Jones was ex- account this morning and was a bit eral and we should be far more accept- ELIN, pictured with daughter “She has lived alone since her husband plaining to her daughter Elena about the shocked! It’s in a good way though, we ing.” died in 1984 and lives off her UK state food that was on the shelves when a should be promoting tolerance towards Elena, was confronted when Elin who also works in a local pub, pension. Sadly, Sandra has dementia, so customer at the local store in Ceredigion all.” speaking Welsh in Lampeter. added, “Most people usually recognise she now needs to be around her family confronted her. Speaking to local media, Elin explained that it’s Welsh, particularly when I’m more than ever. However, because her “I have had comments from people say- Following the encounter, Elin tweeted: how she corrected the woman. “I think in Wales. But maybe because I don’t four children live overseas (two in ing ‘go back to your own country’, “Just got asked by a lady in a shop why I was pretty calm about the situation to sound Welsh when I am speaking it. Canada), she cannot join them as she which is very funny because I am from I don’t speak English and not foreign be honest. could not survive on a frozen pension.” Aberystwyth.” NOVEMBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 9 Johnnie Fox’s Irish Snug: A taste of home in Vancouver

By CATHOLINE BUTLER

VANCOUVER – For many years, new Irish arrivals in Vancouver were advised to look for the red door on Granville Street for a taste of home. Behind that door was the familiarity of SEAN FLYNN (back) is the Athlone-born general manager at friends, the perfectly poured pint of Johnnie Fox’s. He is pictured above with bartender Diarmuid Guinness, hearty and delicious pub grub and live entertainment every other Fri- Lynch (front) holding a glass a Guinness. day and every Sunday. The destination was Johnnie Fox’s Irish Snug – a tiny pub with seating for just over 50 – which has been in operation since 2004. After a renovation to the facade, the iconic red door was replaced with a new jazzy modern glass one, but little has changed inside since the pub first opened – most of all it’s the same friendly hospitality that keeps the loyal customers coming back. For most businesses getting a new front door wouldn’t be a big deal but at Johnnie Fox’s it was iconic....so instead of completely ditching the door, they just moved it! THE FACADE outside Johnnie Fox’s Irish Snug has changed It now hangs on the wall inside as a over the years but inside its the same warmth and hospitality decoration and it seems that at closing customers have come to expect. time some customers still try to leave through the red door. “I came into Johnnie Fox’s one Friday The craic at Johnnie Fox’s is pretty night and was back again Saturday and much non-stop and that’s on a daily Sunday, and on Monday morning I came basis. in and asked for a job....that was four It’s the kind of place where a woman years ago.” can feel comfortable to drop in after Since then he’s moved up to general work or from shopping and sit at the manager and he said, “now I’m the man bar. giving the job. I’ve never been home- You could strike up a conversation with sick a day in my life and I know it’s bartender Diarmuid Lynch from Galway because I work here.” and, before you know it, the whole bar Johnnie Fox’s is also a place where lots wants in on the conversation with opin- of newly arrived Irish in Vancouver ions not necessarily based in fact. It’s have found a start with work. all part of the fun and laughter. Many contractors have also come in What’s really unique about Fox’s though looking for experienced tradespeople is that without encouragement numer- like plumbers or carpenters. ous romances have blossomed into marriages. Sean said, “we don’t have any official capacity helping people to get jobs, but Kind of like a local Lisdoonvarna – the THAT iconic red door is now a I know a lot of people have been able famed County Clare matchmaking fes- wall decoration inside the pub to get work because they met someone tival – but at Johnnie Fox’s there are but the brass sign plate on top at Johnnie Fox’s who was able to di- no matchmakers....just friendly faces. remains. It reads: “There are rect them to someone who could help. Sean Flynn is the Athlone-born general no strangers here, only friends “It seems to be all word-of-mouth and manager and he spoke to me recently who have never met.” it all comes back to friendly Irish peo- about the number of customers who ple hearing someone’s story and just found love at Johnnie Fox’s. have a chat with whoever comes in,” wanting to help them get work or ac- He said, “actually there’s a Canadian he said. “They’ll be asking them what commodation.” couple from Vancouver island who their story is, where they’re coming Speaking about the food menu at Johnnie come back here every year at the same from and where they’re going – the Fox’s, Sean said, “‘I would say that we time because this is where they first same kinds of questions people would probably have the best taste-of-home met. They come every July and spend ask you in Ireland.” food, and of course ourselves working a couple of nights here because they Speaking about his own background, here want a taste of home as well. met here on a weekend in July. Sean said, “when I first moved to Van- “We have the all-day Irish breakfast, “And there are plenty of other Irish couver, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to also a breakfast roll, bangers and mash, people that I know who have met here. do. shepherd’s pie, Irish stew, and roast I think it’s the home environment where “In Ireland I worked in corporate finance beef dinner seven days a week. This is you can come in and you don’t feel out and just felt I wanted to take a little just to name a few of our Irish comfort of place.” break from that. foods.” • But, he said it’s the genuine interest in “After a few weeks in Vancouver I just people and familiar warm Irish atmos- Johnnie Fox’s Irish Snug is located felt like I didn’t fit in and realized what at 1033 Granville Street, Vancouver. phere that keeps people coming back. was missing was the lack of banter and For more information, call (604) 685- “Often, whoever is working the bar will laughter from back home. 4946 or online: www.johnniefox.ca. PAGE 10 www.celtic-connection.com NOVEMBER 2017 SFU Pipe Band’s annual celebration of Robert Burns – Scotland’s bard COQUITLAM – The pipes are calling you to join the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Pipe Band’s annual Robbie Burns fundraising dinner and silent auction to celebrate the life and work of Robert Burns – Scotland’s iconic cultural voice. Taste the haggis, watch the Highland dancers, hear the words of Robert Burns, and listen to the pipes and drums on this five-star evening. What better opportunity to don your kilt and finest Highland attire than a celebration of Scotland and its most famous poet? If your kilt happens to be at the drycleaners that evening, business for- mal attire will do. You won’t want to miss their incredible silent auction featuring the works of local artisans and small businesses. GREG BOWLES the owner of Black Pudding Imports in Langley, Having won no less than six world championships and recorded albums in some B.C. displays some of their new Christmas stock. of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, the SFU Pipe Band has garnered a reputation as one of the world’s most Black Pudding Imports: accomplished pipe bands and a Cana- dian music icon. The band rose to prominence in the PROCEEDS of the fundraiser will support the Robert Malcolm Great gift ideas 1980s before winning their first World Memorial Pipe Band, the most extensive and successful youth Championship in 1995 and again in 1996, becoming the first pipe band from out- program for piping and drumming in the world. for all your holiday list side of the United Kingdom to win the By CATHOLINE BUTLER teapots are always popular. These are title more than once. VANCOUVER WELSH SOCIETY LANGLEY, B.C. – ‘Tis the season now available in colour, but the tradi- Since then, the band has played at ven- when Celtic retail outlets are busy re- tional brown teapots are still the most ues including the Sydney Opera House, ceiving delicious overseas goodies for popular. Carnegie Hall, and the Lincoln Center A busy fall season Christmas...exciting times. Other items include Union Jack prod- in New York. Greg Bowles and Linda Hazelton, own- ucts such as oven mitts, tea cosies and The band placed fifth at the 2017 World ers of Black Pudding Imports have been tea towels which make great stocking Pipe Band Championships under Pipe in the Red Dragon in business in Langley for the past 18 stuffers. Major Alan Bevan this past August and age to seniors, who also enjoyed the years. Two-and-a-half years ago they For your Robbie Burns celebration there continues to push the boundaries of the Welsh treats like bara brith and Welsh moved to their current larger premises are napkins and table runners in vari- artistic world with Scotland’s national cakes that were on sale. The next dance and expanded their extensive overseas ous tartans, along with haggis pies and instrument. will be held early in the New Year. merchandise line. tinned haggis. The SFU Pipe Band is proud to have Another pub night was held in the Red This location is nicely merchandised Black Pudding Imports also keep a great one of the most extensive and success- Dragon on Friday night, October 28 with wider aisles to view shelves now stock of haggis on hand year ‘round ful youth programs for piping and drum- By EIFION when a convivial gathering again en- stocked with specialty items such as since many customers like to stuff their ming in the world. WILLIAMS joyed the pub atmosphere and the rous- biscuits, shortbread and teas from Ire- ing spontaneous singing. poultry with haggis. The Robert Malcolm Memorial (RMM) land and England, jams and marmalades The annual Vancouver Celebrates from the UK, Tayto crisps and Irn Greg said, “We will have lots of haggis Pipe Band is the band’s junior organi- VANCOUVER – The Vancouver on hand for Robbie Burns celebrations, zation consisting of four bands and a Wales events were held on November Bru....to name just a few. Welsh Society hosted several 3-5. A Noson Lawen (evening of en- but for larger celebrations it would be beginner instructional program. popular social events in the Greg and Linda recently become proud advisable to order your haggis early.” tertainment) was held on Friday and doting grandparents to their first The organization was founded in 1994 Cambrian Hall over the past cou- evening, November 3, featuring Port- born grandson and the day I stopped by Mouth-watering deli delights include a after two members of the SFU Pipe ple of months. land entertainers Three Pound Note. for a visit Linda was away babysitting, large selection of meat pies such as Band, Robert and Malcolm, were killed On September 29 there was another On Saturday afternoon, November 4, so I spoke to Greg about the merchan- steak and kidney, steak and Guinness, in an automobile accident. pub night featuring popular performer David Llewelyn Williams presented a dise. steak and mushroom, chicken curry, At the 2017 World Pipe Band Champi- Tim Readman, in what is hoped to be a 100th anniversary program to com- chicken vegetable and chicken mush- onships this past August, the RMM Black Pudding always carry a wide room. series of musical pub nights in the Red memorate the death of the famous range of Christmas and Robbie Burns Grade III band competed in the Juve- Dragon lounge. Welsh poet Hedd Wyn, together with a goods with more still to come. Specialty bacons include, Wiltshire, Irish nile category taking home the prestig- film of the opening concert at this and Ayrshire, and they have just added ious Clydesdale Shield. The evening’s entertainment also in- year’s National Eisteddfod in Anglesey. Also, Greg said “after each Premier a Gammon steak. Black and white pud- cluded a pub quiz and pub food, all con- League match we get a real spike in With uniforms and instruments costing tributing to a lively and enjoyable atmos- A bilingual service was held on Sunday dings are never around long enough to well over $2,000 per member, people looking for hats, scarves, ban- freeze...they just fly out the door. phere. morning, followed at 2 PM by the an- ners, balls, mugs and souvenirs of their fundraising is an important part of keep- nual Gymanfa Ganu (singing festival) The Vancouver Welsh Society’s annual favourite teams. We have all this mer- Greg is always adding new pie items ing this musical tradition alive. in the Cambrian Hall. anniversary dinner was held on Octo- chandise.” and he spoke about his latest creation. All proceeds from the Robert Burns ber 14 at the Cambrian Hall, catered This year’s conductor was Orpheus For the Christmas season this year, they “On Saturday mornings, we started add- fundraising dinner and silent auction will by Jordan’s International Food Designs. Choir Musical Director Liana Savard, have their largest stock yet of Marks ing a breakfast that you can eat on the benefit the RMM Pipe Band organiza- The guest soloist was Sarah Henderson. with accompanist Ray Batten. The so- & Spencer merchandise with truffles, go....it’s a ham, egg and cheese sand- tion. loist was Sarah Henderson. Following the dinner, President Lynn cakes, sweets, puddings, cakes and – wich. We also have baked beans, sau- The band is looking forward to welcom- Owens-Whalen presented, on the soci- The Welsh Society is now planning its new this year – chocolate brussel sage and cheese in a shell, along with ing everyone to their fundraising dinner ety’s behalf, two framed portraits of late annual Christmas celebrations. sprouts in a netting bag. Scotch eggs on the weekends.” to help promote piping, drumming, and members Neville Thomas and Ieuan The highlight will once again be a per- Some of the other sweet and delicious When visiting Black Pudding Imports Scottish heritage while enjoying a night Lampshire-Jones. The two portraits will give yourself some time to browse, there of good music, entertainment, and fun. formance of A Child’s Christmas in offerings include Dundee cakes with hang permanently in the Cambrian Hall. Wales, featuring actor Russell Roberts. marzipan icing, Genoa cherry cakes, are some great gift ideas available for • Another popular Twmpath/Ceilidh/ Marks & Spencer marzipan chocolates, everyone on your holiday list. The Robert Burns fundraising dinner The annual children’s Christmas party and silent auction will be held on Square Dance evening was held in the and golden and white marzipan for bak- • will be held on December 12. Details January 27, 2018 at the Executive Red Dragon on October 10. ing. Black Pudding Imports is located at of these and all Welsh Society events th Plaza Hotel, 405 North Road, 107 - 20353 - 64 Avenue, Langley, The Rattlebone Band with caller JD can be found on the society’s website: Other nice gift ideas include the Harris Coquitlam, B.C. Doors open at 6 PM. B.C. Call (604) 532-1223 or visit Erskine once again entertained a wide www.welshsociety.com. Tweed purses, shopping bags and travel For more tickets and information, online at: blackpuddingimports.ca. age range of participants, from school bags, and of course, the Brown Betty visit: www.sfupipeband.com. [More Welsh news page 14] NOVEMBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 11 Scotland-Specific Immigration Policy Needed to Counter Brexit

By HARRY McGRATH

EDINBURGH – For the sea- soned Canada watchers on this side of the pond, there have been two developments of note in the last wee while. BREXIT threatens to restore the demographic conditions of 2001 and its anti-immigrant heart makes the devolution of im- The first was the release of another set migration powers to Scotland even less likely than before. of statistics from the 2016 Canadian census which included a section enti- tled “Immigration and ethnocultural di- least by implication, makes a case for of St. Francis Xavier University in versity.” celebrating it. Nova Scotia to come back to the land of their ancestors. Nobody did. The second was an announcement by Related to this is the recent announce- the Canadian Government that Canada ment that Canada will be looking to at- However a better idea came along soon will accept nearly one million immi- tract close to one million immigrants in after when the Fresh Talent Work in grants over the next three years, the the next three years. Scotland Scheme (FTWISS) was announced by the then Scottish Execu- most ambitious immigration levels in Anti-Immigration recent history. tive in 2005. It’s a tone that the Scottish Government Both of these developments have a would love to set if it had the power to International students would be allowed Scottish dimension though you have to do so, but Brexit is designed to reduce to work in Scotland for two years after look closely to discover it. rather than encourage immigration. graduation and look to stay on beyond that. Scots-Canadians A Scotland-specific immigration policy I first became acquainted with the found cross-party support back in Feb- The main problem was that the Fresh Canada census in 2006 when I used its ruary when a Scottish Parliament com- Talent invitation was not really Scot- data in a report for a project to provide mittee concluded that there were land’s to issue. The UK Home Office diaspora-support for good causes in “acute” risks for EU migrants living in had the power to rescind the invitation Scotland in the way the Ireland Funds Scotland and called for a differentiated and sometimes used it. had done for Ireland. solution. Eventually Fresh Talent itself suffered My report investigated the Scots in Committee members said that Brexit a similar fate. Canada; how many there were, where poses a major challenge for the 181,000 FTWISS ended on June 29, 2008 (“de- they lived, what their employment char- EU migrants living in Scotland, as well leted” according to the UK Border acteristics were and so on. as for Scots living in Europe. Agency website) and was replaced by The first of these was easy enough to They added that Scotland’s economy Tier 1 (Post Work Study), until it too bit discover, even though nobody seemed could suffer if it no longer had access the dust in 2012. to have looked for it before. to European workers who are “a cru- So far all efforts – cross party or civic cial part of our labour market.” The 2006 census revealed that there – have failed to bring any of this back were 4,714,970 Scots in Canada; a fig- Since February individual voices from to life. ure that subsequently found its way into all political backgrounds and none have Despite the demise of Fresh Talent, the various Scottish Government pro- made similar observations. So far they demographic crisis of the early 2000s nouncements, albeit simplified to “al- have fallen on deaf ears. was eventually solved by immigration. most 5 million.” A Demographic Crisis Record Population However, it wasn’t so much the number We’ve been here before. Back in the In June 2016 the National Records as the way it was reached that was in- early 2000s Scotland was facing a de- showed that 31,700 more people moved teresting. mographic crisis with its population ac- to Scotland than left and the total popu- tually falling between the 1991 and 2001 lation rose to a record 5,404,700. It came from the ethnicity question, censuses. combining “Scots-born” and others who Now Brexit threatens to restore the picked “Scottish” as one of their four Initially, this sparked some rather pecu- demographic conditions of 2001 and its possible origins. liar initiatives. anti-immigrant heart makes the devo- The 2016 census reveals that there are First Minister Jack McConnell visited lution of immigration powers to Scot- now 4,799,050 Scots in Canada, a rise Ontario and appealed to people of Scot- land even less likely than before. of over 84,000. tish descent to return to their “home- Little wonder that we can only gaze with land.” This is counter-intuitive given that Scot- envy while Canada plans its future. tish immigration has, in the words of one Around the same time, Scottish Cardi- BREXIT: More on pages 20 & 21 Scottish historian, been “reduced to a nal Keith O’Brien asked the graduates trickle.” The places where Scots used to gather – Burns clubs, football supporters’ clubs Where are most Scots etc – are, with some exceptions, much reduced. And the areas where census- mapping has Scottish clusters – West employed in 2017? Vancouver, Kerrisdale – have few vis- Scotland was once a land of heavy industry and agriculture but work- ible signs of a Scottish presence. ers in 2017 are more likely to employed by the NHS or local coun- The rise is due to the increasing number cils. of Canadians self-identifying as Scots. Health and social care remains the largest jobs sector north of the Border, ac- There are similar trends elsewhere in counting for 16 per cent of the country’s total workforce, a survey found. Em- the census, for instance a 42.5 percent ployment experts said the dominance of health-related jobs is only expected to rise in self-identified indigenous popu- grow due to Scotland’s ageing population, with higher numbers of social carers lation. required as a result. The whole exercise shows the extent The figures were revealed in an annual report from the Scottish Parliament of Canadian multiculturalism and, at Information Centre (SPICe), which examines the country’s labour force in depth. PAGE 12 www.celtic-connection.com NOVEMBER 2017 Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Meets with business leaders in Seattle, WA

By JOHN KEANE SEATTLE – Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar was in Seattle on Wednesday, November 1, for meetings with Seattle companies Microsoft and Amazon, both of which provide employment to thousands of people in Ireland. He was accompanied to Seattle PHOTO: Brendan Shriane by leaders of Ireland’s Industrial PHOTO: Rozarii Lynch Photography REGISTRATION DESK (L-R) JANE SEPEDE, Dean Arnold, IRISH CONSUL GENERAL Robert O’Driscoll, Irish Ambassa- Neil Francoeur, Gabby Jacobsen, Frank Gill, Caron McMahon Development Authority and En- dor to the United States Dan Mulhall, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Diana Jacobsen at the Chihuly Garden and Glass. terprise Ireland as well as by the with Maureen Keane and Honorary Consul John Keane prior new Irish Ambassador to the to the November 1 Irish business luncheon at the Chihuly Gar- U.S. Dan Mulhall. den and Glass in Seattle. At a lunch at the Chihuly Garden and Glass at the Seattle Center, he later told business leaders and Irish community representatives that companies like Amazon and Microsoft make important economic contributions to Ireland. Here are excerpts from the taoiseach’s speech: “Seattle is a place which many of you call home. For others, this is a home- away-from-home. Although I stand here today more than 11,000 miles away from Ireland’s western shores, your warm welcome has certainly made me feel at home. PHOTO: Rozarii Lynch Photography “Of course, the Céad Míle Fáilte that LEO VARADKAR examines the gift presented to him by Dale you have extended to me hardly comes Chihuly and his wife Leslie Jackson at the Chihuly Garden as a surprise, considering the long pres- PHOTO: Rozarii Lynch Photography and Glass in Seattle. (L-R) Paula Stokes, Leslie Jackson, Dale ence of the Irish in Seattle, and the re- (L-R) SEATTLE POLICE CHIEF Kathleen O’Toole, Seattle Chihuly and the taoiseach. markable imprint that Irish emigrants Mayor Tim Burgess, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speak be- have made on this great city. fore the Irish business luncheon in Seattle. “Irish people have been settling in Seattle for more than 160 years, helping to build, shape and strengthen this city. “John Collins from County Cavan, became the first Irish-born mayor of Seattle in 1871, and made a considerable contribution to this city’s development. “Judge Thomas Burke – who is called ‘The Man who Built Seattle’ – was a first-generation Irish-American, and helped to bring the Great Northern Rail- way to its terminus here.

PHOTO: Brendan Shriane “In turn, Seattle has helped to build the CEOL CASCADIA MUSICIANS (L-R) Brendan Boyle, Ann modern Ireland that we have today. In Delahanty and Doug Mahoney, entertain the attendees before the 1980s two Seattle entrepreneurs – Bill Gates and Paul Allen – recognized Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks at the Irish business luncheon Ireland as a place to grow their com- PHOTO: Rozarii Lynch Photography at the Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle on November 1. pany Microsoft. KEY MCKENNA (R) shakes hands with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar “From a small manufacturing facility at the Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle. Consul General employing 100 people in 1985, Microsoft Robert O’Driscoll (left) and Michelle Delaney (right). now employs 3,000 people in Ireland, in some of their most advanced opera- cation for investment. cluding many here in Washington State. tions, from software development and “The significance of trade and invest- “Today Ireland is an island at the center testing, to sales and marketing. ment for Ireland is nowhere more evi- of the world – at the heart of the com- “Another Seattle company, Amazon, has dent than in our bilateral economic re- mon European home we helped to build invested over 1.5 billion in Ireland since lationship with the United States. – confident about our place in the world 2004, and employs around 2,000 people at a time when so many other countries “However it is important to remember are not. across its Cork and Dublin sites. that trade between Ireland and the “Companies like Amazon and Microsoft United States is a two-way, mutually “Meeting you here today, and hearing are part of a group of over 500 U.S. beneficial relationship. about the important contributions that you continue to make to Seattle and to companies that have chosen to invest “Viewed across both goods and serv- in Ireland, creating 140,000 jobs. Washington State, is a great source of ices, our overall trade flows are remark- pride to me as taoiseach, and to the “These companies make an important ably balanced. country as a whole. economic contribution to Ireland and “Irish companies employ close to “I want to congratulate you for all that PHOTO: Brendan Shriane their presence contributes to our status 100,000 Americans in a range of sec- (L-R) HEATHER MURPHY, David Jacobsen, Mick McHugh, as one of the tech capitals of the world. you have accomplished, and all that you tors including software, medical tech- are working towards. Gabby Jacobsen, and Diana Jacobsen at the Seattle Irish busi- “They have recognized the many quali- nologies and aerospace in more than ness luncheon. ties which make Ireland a desirable lo- 430 Irish firms across all 50 states, in- “Go raibh míle maith agaibh.” NOVEMBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 13

GROUP PHOTO of all the teams participating in the David Gavin memorial tournament in Salmon Arm, British Columbia on September 23.

DAVID GAVIN MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT DENIS RYAN (Fraser Valley Gaels and JP Ryans Hurling Club – Secretary of Western Board), Grainne Warren (ISSC Van- Reflections on a positive end couver) , Ciara O’Malley (David’s girlfriend), and Jimmy Doyle (Calgary Chieftains – Western Board Chairman), at the Salmon to a difficult season for the ISSC Arm tournament. dentally for my group, we stayed just By TADHG EGAN outside of Salmon Arm. Chairman of ISSC Vancouver 2017 On June 30 as we awoke to what was a beautiful day surrounded by such VANCOUVER – The GAA breathtaking scenery, we never could have imagined the pain and tragedy that playing season in Western we would feel by day’s end. Canada came to an end on On that Friday afternoon, just as word September 23, 2017 in the began to filter through of the situation unique setting of Salmon Arm that was unfolding, quite a number of which hosted the David Gavin us were just arriving at Lake Louise. memorial tournament. While Kinbasket Lake was a place that DAVID GAVIN was new to all of us at that time, it is Teams from the ISSC Vancouver, JP now unfortunately a place that none of Ryan’s Hurling Club, the Fraser Valley us will ever forget. Gaels and the Calgary Chieftains all A lot has been said about David over travelled to Salmon Arm where com- the last few months, and as someone petitive games were played in all four commented to me recently “even JIM KELLY (second left) the Ambassador of Ireland to Canada codes. though I didn’t know him, I genuinely was in Alberta last month and met with community and busi- Some of David’s friends and his girl- believe that he must have been a great ness leaders in both Edmonton and Calgary. He is pictured friend Ciara were also in attendance on guy” and it is true, he was a great guy. above at Mount Royal University in Calgary with Elizabeth Evans the day. Many of us unfortunately did not get (third left) the Dean of Business and Communications, Jim The tournament was a positive end to the chance to know him for a very long Silovs (left) the Associate Dean, and Deirdre Halferty (right), what was unfortunately a difficult and period of time while he was here, but Honorary Consul Ireland for Calgary and Southern Alberta. tragic year for all involved in Western even for the short time that we did know Canada GAA, in particular for David’s him, he left an impression that is as last- teammates in the ISSC Vancouver ing and profound as I have probably Men’s Gaelic Football team. ever seen. On June 29, those of us who were driv- Firstly he was an incredible footballer ing to Calgary for the Western Cana- and athlete, one of the best to have ever dian Championships set off from Van- THE MEMORIAL TREE planted graced the colours of the ISSC Van- couver. couver, while the remainder of our play- in the name of David Gavin in ers chose to fly on the Friday after Breaffy, Co. Mayo in August. He was a great teammate here and work. back home in Breaffy, he was an in- We had huge numbers travelling to what credible friend to all who knew him, he promised to be a fantastic tournament The travelling convoys ended up in vari- was a loving boyfriend to his girlfriend hosted by the Calgary Chieftains as part ous destinations that night including of over 10 years Ciara, a legend of a of their 40th anniversary celebrations. Kamloops, Kelowna, Hope and coinci- brother to his younger sister Aoife and he was the type of child that any parent would dream of having and Michael and Angela loved him so much. He excelled in every way, but at all times it seems he did it in his own humble, genuine and modest way. The reaction to the fundraising efforts that followed the tragedy were a reflection of the high esteem David and his family were held in. It was also a reflection of how fantastic Irish people, in particular the GAA community, are in times of great tragedy. DAVID’S ISSC Vancouver teammates who won the tournament As Michael Gavin recently said to me, held in his honour in September. “Although we have not been successful in our endeavours just yet, we have a certain peace of mind knowing that we have done everything humanly possible to find David. We still harbour New ISSC Executive some hope for next May, please God.” The Vancouver Irish Sporting and Social Club held a very well A special mention must go to Jimmy attended annual general meeting on Thursday, November 2 and a Doyle of the Calgary Chieftains and his new committee was elected as follows: Western Board colleagues who organ- Maria Eviston – Chairperson ized the event at Salmon Arm. Sofie Gallagher – Secretary While it was certainly not the ending Trevor Farrell – Treasurer anyone could have ever imagined, we Aislinn Rice – PRO can at least look back on a positive end- Lorraine Muckian – Club Development Officer ing to the summer and we can look for- Contact the ISSC or learn more, online at: www.isscvancouver.com, ward with renewed hope and optimism or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/isscvancouver. towards GAA in Western Canada in 2018. PAGE 14 www.celtic-connection.com NOVEMBER 2017 Hemochromatosis (aka the Celtic Curse): My Husband Died of Iron Overload

By JACKIE LALUMIÈRE We managed at home for a few more We attend the Highland Games to help In January 2010, my usually days until he was no longer able to bring information to the Celtic popula- walk. tion who are often affected by heredi- healthy, energetic 72-year-old tary hemochromatosis. husband began to feel unwell, On Friday, April 19, 2013, I called the ambulance to take my husband to hos- The chapter has organized four unable to describe the feeling pital. fundraiser golf tournaments and we at- except to say that he felt very tend health shows in the area, bringing He died on May 3 from complications awareness and information. tired. of hemochromatosis due to an untimely Regardless of this fatigue he continued diagnosis. The cure for hemochromatosis is to play tennis three times a week and awareness. In our small group of eight One important point to note is that at volunteers, we have among us two who worked a few hours at a small local no time during my husband’s consulta- store. have hereditary hemochromatosis, my tion with doctors was there any men- daughter and one of her friends are Sometimes the work was strenuous, but tion that his family, siblings or children carriers of one of the mutations, and Tom enjoyed meeting people and he should be tested for this hereditary ge- the father-in-law of one of our volun- wasn’t a man to give up easily. netic condition. teers has just been diagnosed with the During several physicals his doctor had My daughter and I could not believe disorder. noted a rise in ferritin levels. that someone so healthy and full of life It is very believable that 1 in 300 Cana- could pass from this world due to high In that spring my husband’s serum fer- TOM AND JACKIE Lalumière in happier times. dians is at risk of this genetic heredi- iron levels. tary condition. ritin level was 881 ng/mL. He developed a bronze skin tone, and due to his low white cell count. his friends would ask if he had been We researched the condition and dis- One in 300 Canadians, mainly of north- The doctor said there was no cause for The only available treatment for him down south. covered the Canadian Hemochro- ern European descent, are at risk for alarm as he had seen much higher fer- now was a chelation medication. matosis Society (CHS). hemochromatosis. Most are unaware ritin levels in other patients. He was constantly tired and lost his of the condition. appetite. His ferritin was now 1,793 ng/ The medication was not suitable for my We also learned that ours was not the There was no mention of iron overload; very ill husband; his damaged liver was mL. only case of a late diagnosis ending so The Canadian Hemochromatosis Soci- Tom and I assumed all was well. unable to filter this strong medication. tragically. ety’s mission is to promote the early di- Finally in 2012 my husband was re- By summer the ferritin levels had risen agnosis, screening and testing of heredi- ferred to a hematologist and a gastro- His ferritin levels rose and he began to We attended an information session in to 935 ng/mL. tary hemochromatosis through its enterologist. suffer with many of the associated ill- Montreal, and soon after we started the The doctor thought it may be iron over- nesses of hemochromatosis. Ottawa Chapter for CHS. awareness-raising programs in medical An MRI disclosed severe liver damage. communities and with those at risk, to load and ordered more blood tests; still Following several visits to the emer- Our first information session drew a no definitive diagnosis. see an end to suffering and premature Phlebotomies were ordered and after gency room he was given higher doses small amount of attendees, but we death related to the disorder. During the next two years, without di- several treatments iron levels de- of diuretics to try to reduce water re- found volunteers who were willing to • agnosis or treatment my husband be- creased, but so did the white cell count. tention in his abdomen and legs. help build the chapter. Support the Canadian Hemochro- gan to show definite signs of what I now Following several inconclusive bone My husband should have been admit- Since those early days of starting up matosis Society, Suite #285 - 7000 know to be hereditary hemochro- marrow tests, my husband was unable ted to the hospital at that time as he the chapter we have had several suc- Minoru Boulevard., Richmond, B.C. matosis. to continue with phlebotomy therapy was very ill. cessful information sessions. V6Y 3Z5. More information online at www.toomuchiron.ca/celtic. Vancouver Welsh Society’s ‘lost’ 1948 bardic chair

found in London David By EIFION WILLIAMS The winning poem must adhere strictly Llewelyn Williams, VANCOUVER – Vancouver Welsh to a traditional Welsh metre form. The Society Past-President David Llewelyn chairs are kept and cherished by the Vancouver Williams has shown an increasing in- winners or occasionally donated to wor- Welsh terest in recent years in the fate of the thy Welsh organizations. Bardic Chair donated by the society to Society the 1948 Royal National Eisteddfod of Dewi Emrys, the Chaired Bard at the Wales, held that year in Bridgend. Bridgend Eisteddfod, was a colourful Past-President character who had already won three The story of the Vancouver Bardic Eisteddfod chairs in previous years, al- seated in the Chair has always been regarded as a steddfod be built and presented by the though one was replaced by a medal- Bardic Chair significant event in the Welsh Society’s Vancouver Welsh Society. lion in 1943 because of the War. history, not least because of the per- donated by A committee chaired by Edwards was Due to his dissolute and occasionally sonalities involved, both in Vancouver formed and sufficient money was raised the society and in Wales, including the eccentric vagrant way of life, Dewi Emrys man- by local Welsh immigrants to pay for aged to lose his winning chairs, includ- chaired Bard, Dewi Emrys James. to the 1948 the chair and its shipment to Wales. ing the 1948 Vancouver Chair. One of the Welsh Society members The chair was made of Canadian black Royal National heavily involved in the story of the chair Two of Dewi Emrys’s chairs were re- walnut to a specific design set by the cently discovered. One was found in Eisteddfod was Thomas Edwards, head of T. Eisteddfod Council, with leather uphol- Edwards and Co., a prominent Vancou- Chirk Castle and another in Llanelli but stery and a Welsh dragon motif. It also the Vancouver Chair remained lost un- of Wales. ver funeral director whose name is in- bore the symbols and motifs derived scribed as a donor on the Cambrian til the beginning of this year, when it It now resides from early West Coast totems and the was discovered in Jewin Welsh Chapel Hall cornerstone, together with those B.C. First Nations. at the Jewin of other prominent Welsh immigrant in London. philanthropists. The chair was duly presented to the It is not known how it got there and it Welsh Chapel Eisteddfod by Thomas Edwards at the had apparently been covered up. Thomas Edwards and his wife arrived 1948 National Eisteddfod in Bridgend. in London. in Vancouver from the Swansea area Following his attendance at this year’s of South Wales in the 1890s. Both This ceremony was also the first to rec- National Eisteddfod in Anglesey, David played an influential role in Welsh im- ognize and welcome the Overseas Llewelyn Williams was determined to it represents British Columbia. It exhib- David adds that there is no doubt as to migrant circles in Vancouver during the Welsh, a tradition that was to continue see ‘our’ chair and a visit to Jewin its the essence of the heritage of Brit- its authenticity and says it was a rare first half of the Twentieth Century. to the present day. Thomas Edwards Chapel was arranged for him by close ish Columbia through the carvings rep- privilege to sit in it. was its first leader. resenting the culture of its First Nations. Their granddaughter, Ann Bosch, is still friend Eileen Mitchell and by Gareth Having already sat in the Chirk Chair, a respected member of the society. The Chairing Ceremony is the highlight Owen, a Deacon at the chapel. “This chair is a statement to the Welsh he now looks forward to sitting in the It was suggested by Welsh Society of the week’s events at the annual Royal David said after the visit, “What is ap- community, the First Nations of Brit- Llanelli Chair, which he says, with members and friends in Wales that the National Eisteddfod of Wales and the parent in the design of the Chair is how ain, from the First Nations culture of tongue in cheek, “will complete my hom- Bardic Chair for the 1948 National Ei- winning bard is held in high esteem. British Columbia.” age to Dewi Emrys.” NOVEMBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 15 Ottawa’s Barrack Hill Cemetery:

Remains finally laid to PagerestPage 5 almost 150 years later OTTAWA – Perhaps one of the most were likely of Irish, Scottish, struction of the Confederation Line, the most poignant events of Cana- French and British background. city’s new light-rail transportation system. da’s 150th year took place on However, when it came time to close October 1 at Beechwood Cem- the cemetery, in the name of progress Ben Mortimer, a senior archeologist and city building, only relatives who could with the engineering consulting firm etery to commemorate the re- afford to move their dead to another Paterson Group, led the dig, along with mains of 79 individuals – some cemetery in Sandy Hill, now known as Janet Young, an anthropologist with the of the region’s earliest settlers. MacDonald Gardens Park, did so. Canadian Museum of History. Earlier the public was invited to At the time, city archivist Paul Henry They worked for several months in 2014 PHOTO: City of Ottawa OTTAWA Mayor Jim Watson and the dioceses entering the pay their respects to the group who says Bytown sported a population of to exhume the remains from the former only 7,000 people and was still a wild cemetery, originally bounded by Elgin ceremony at Beechwood Cemetery to honour Barrack Hill Cem- have become known as Ottawa’s west, of sorts. and Metcalfe streets and Sparks and etery individuals. forgotten at the Canadian Museum Queen streets. of History. Prior to the Municipal Corporations Act of 1849, it was incumbent upon the fami- Given the lower social economic status The remains were left behind in what lies to physically move the dead them- of the majority of those still at the site, was once Barrack Hill Cemetery – selves, rather than being the responsi- “grave goods” such as jewellery were Bytown’s earliest cemetery – the city’s bility of the county magistrate. not found, and most remains were first known gravesite for Europeans. wrapped in a shroud without clothing The unclaimed remained in their plots and shoes. During the two decades before the as new buildings and roads, including original cemetery closed in 1845, some Queen and Metcalfe streets, were built “If you are burying your relatives, then 500 human remains were buried there. over the two-acre plot of land. (families) are going to reuse the clothes The cemetery served various denomi- and they’ll pass them down to some- These remains were unearthed in body else,” Mortimer says. nations, including Roman Catholic, Prot- downtown Ottawa in 2013 after being estant and Presbyterian. It is believed discovered during early stages of con- Women averaged between five foot and five foot four inches tall, and men were between five foot five and five foot 10 inches. Most of the adults showed evidence of difficult lives, including indications of malnutrition and bodily stress, and skel- etal degeneration sometimes associated PHOTO: City of Ottawa with hard labour. THE FINAL CASKET is carried to the new gravesite in a 19th It should also be noted that there was a Century horse-drawn hearse, an archival item provided by the high rate of infant mortality in the as- Cumberland Village Heritage Museum. semblage taken from Barrack Hill Cem- says, may have wiped out entire fami- Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Ot- etery, a common occurrence in indus- lies due to poor sanitation and drinking tawa, and the Roman Catholic and An- trial cemeteries, especially those iden- water, as well as a lack of proper medi- glican Dioceses of Ottawa were present tified with lower socio-economic sta- cal care. for the ecumenical burial at Beechwood tus. Cemetery. It is expected that additional Barrack Worn joints also showed a “hard life,” PHOTO: McCord Museum Hill Cemetery burials will be found as Bryan Daly, president of the Irish Soci- EARLY days of Bytown, now known as the City of Ottawa, for those likely working as labourers in two sites are undergoing excavation this ety of the National Capital Region, was the lumber trade or possibly construct- Capital of Canada. year. These remains will be re-interred also present, along with members of ing the Rideau Canal. following protocol. the Canal Workers Commemorative Group to represent the Irish commu- The cemetery was also in use during Members of the clergy from St. Honour for Galway historian two cholera epidemics, which, Young nity. who uncovered mass grave at Tuam Mother and Baby Home IRISH CLUB OF WHITE ROCK DUBLIN – The volunteer historian who uncovered details of a A great year with many new families mass grave at the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam has been honoured as a “fearless cam- welcomed to the club in 2017 paigner for human rights.” WHITE ROCK, B.C. – The Irish Club of White Rock has had a very success- Catherine Corless was awarded the ful year to date, including a great sum- Bar of Ireland’s Human Rights Award CATHERINE CORLESS mer picnic at Redwood Park in August in Dublin on October 26. with a record attendance, including The Bar of Ireland’s Human Rights In 2013 Corless discovered official many new families to Canada. Award is an initiative of The Bar of records showing that 798 infants and Ireland’s Human Rights Committee The club’s most recent event was a children had died at the home in Tuam, and is presented to a person or organi- Halloween party for children on Sun- Co. Galway. sation who has shown exceptional day, October 29 at Bakerview Hall in In March, a Commission of Investi- humanitarian service. South Surrey. gation announced that it had found “a In 2016 it was awarded to the Irish It was attended by a great number of significant number of human remains” Naval Service for their work on the children and adults and a wonderful time on the site of the home which had been migrant crisis in the Mediterranean was had by all. run until the early 1960s by the Bon Sea. Secours Sisters. There were adults meeting new friends Paul McGarry SC, Chairman of the and catching up with old friends, chil- Corless believes most of the 798 in- Council of The Bar of Ireland praised dren enjoyed face painting, music, fants and children are buried on the Corless for her “incredible courage dancing and many of the old traditional site, part of which had a local author- and determination in her advocacy games and lots of home baking. A DELICIOUS table with home baking featured at the children’s ity estate built on it in the 1970s. work on behalf of the survivors of the One special item was tea brack which Halloween party along with traditional games such as bobbing Corless said she was “truly honoured” Tuam Mother and Baby Home. was traditionally eaten at Halloween. for apples. to receive The Bar of Ireland Human “She has worked tirelessly on their Guests were advised to watch for the Rights Award. Details and location to be advised. More be held at the Hazelemere Golf and behalf and has shone a light on a dark customary ring baked into the cake. The information on Facebook at: Irish Club Tennis Club in South Surrey. “My work campaigning on behalf of period of our history, passionately rep- person finding the ring was said to be of White Rock, or e-mail: the survivors of mother and baby resented the victims and their rights the next one married. [email protected]. Newcomers are always welcome at the Irish Club of White Rock. To learn more homes continues and I hope that this at all times, often in the face of ad- Christmas is just around the corner and special award will give even more versity. She epitomises the very es- Following the Christmas celebrations, or get involved, call Sharon Woods the Irish Club is planning their Christ- tickets will be available for the annual (president) at (604) 338-3553 or survivors the strength to come for- sence of a humanitarian and is a very mas dinner party on the last day of ward to tell their story,” she said. deserving recipient of this award.” St. Patrick’s Day dinner and dance to Deirdre O’Ruairc (secretary) (604) Christmas, Little Christmas, January 6. 803-0773. PAGE 16 www.celtic-connection.com NOVEMBER 2017 Folktales and legends told around the fireside formed the backbone of Irish imagination for millennia The Cycle of the Kings tells of the legendary kings of Ireland, both mythical and historical, including Labraid Loingseach, Conall Corc and, most fa- mously, Cormac mac Airt and Brian Boru. Alongside folktales and legends, all these stories, told around the firesides at night, formed the backbone of entertainment and imagination in Ireland for many millennia. BENBURB PRIORY situated in East Tyrone, about seven miles from the city of Armagh, celebrates over 1,000 years of his- Legends tended, and still tend, to be told tory with a new £1.4 million library and museum based in the on a more informal basis – in the fields, refurbished stables at the centre of the estate. PHOTO: Department of Irish Folklore, UCD over the kitchen table, at the pub – and THE FAMOUS Irish oral tradition is exemplified in such re- do not require any specialised skill or markable storytellers as Peig Sayers [1873–1958] from knowledge in their telling. Legends Dunquin (Dún Chaoin), Co. Kerry, Ireland. Seán Ó were slightly more likely to be told by women than by men. New Benburb Priory Súilleabháin, the former archivist for the Irish Folklore Com- mission, described her as “one of the greatest woman story- But other forms of storytelling – tellers of recent times.” folktales, hero tales, and myths – have museum to celebrate traditionally been the preserve of the STORYTELLING was a favourite art and seanchaí, who was slightly more likely amusement among the Gaelic-speaking people to be male. 1,000 years of archives of Ireland and Scotland – particularly during This cultivation of the quality of oral ARMAGH, Northern Ireland the dark winter months – and much of their rep- expression was important in the Irish- speaking tradition. Much of the particu- – A new £1.4 million library S ertoire went back to pre-Christian sources. lar nature of the English spoken in Ire- and museum at Benburb In olden days, there were professional The storyteller was held in high esteem land is owed to this linguistic inherit- storytellers, divided into well-defined by the Irish who revered and cultivated ance. Priory was officially opened ranks – ollaimh (professors), fílí (po- story and song as their principal means Nevertheless, a lot was also lost in the by Ireland’s two Archbishops ets), baird (bards), seanchaí (histori- of artistic expression. Indeed, storytell- transition from Irish to English; many of Armagh – the Most Rever- ans, storytellers), whose duty it was to ing is the flagship of Irish folklore. tales have been recorded only in Irish, end Eamon Martin, and the know by heart the tales, poems and his- mainly due to the efforts of the Irish tory proper to their rank, which were The famous Irish oral tradition is exemplified in such remarkable storytell- Folklore Commission, now in the de- Church of Ireland primate, the recited for the entertainment and praise partment of Irish Folklore in University Most Reverend Richard of the chiefs and princes. ers as Peig Sayers, Anna Nic an Luain, Eamon a Burc, and many more. College, Dublin. Clarke – on October 26. These learned classes were rewarded Yeats, Lady Gregory and J.M. Synge, by their patrons, but the collapse of the Notably, the members of the travelling community were traditionally regarded names associated with the Irish Liter- The facility celebrates over Gaelic order after the battle of Kinsale ary Revival, were all fascinated by the 1,000 years of history and is situ- (1601), and Culloden in Scotland (1746), as amongst the best storytellers, and they have made an enormous contribu- folklore of Ireland and created a new ated in East Tyrone, about seven wiped out the aristocratic classes who literature out of the oral heritage. maintained the poets, and reduced the tion to the preservation of Ireland’s oral miles from the city of Armagh, role of the historian and seanchaí. and musical tradition. One of the difficulties faced by all the in an area of outstanding natural ley in the economic, social and cultural Stories of Fionn and the Fianna (The writers in English was how to translate and scenic beauty. development of the region over the cen- Storytelling was, of course, one of the the syntax and imagery of the Irish lan- turies. main forms of fireside entertainment Fenian Cycle) CúChulainn and the Red Branch Knights (The Ulster Cycle), The guage into acceptable written English The Servite Order, which owns the among the ordinary folk also, and the No similar collection devoted to the Cycle of the Kings, and the Mythologi- and reproduce the normal speech of the priory and its estate, dates back to O’Neill Clans and associated history popular Irish tradition became enriched people in a natural manner. by the remnants of the learned classes cal Cycle, comprise the four major saga 1233 in Florence, Italy. It has had has been established elsewhere. cycles in Early Irish literature. returning to the people. Douglas Hyde, the son of a rector from a rich and varied history spanning Benburb, by virtue of its history and Roscommon, knew Irish well and col- and being affected by great politi- association with the O’Neills, is the lected the songs and tales for posterity, cal, religious and social change natural home for such a collection and preserving them as accurately as he through its evolving locations in the library and museum will be the fu- Who was the Hag of Beare? could in Irish and providing English mainland Europe, England, United ture focal point for gatherings of the translations that were faithful, rather clans including the recently re-estab- Who was the Hag (Cailleach) Beare? Ebb-tide has come to me than literary. States, and beyond. She appears as a mysterious and shad- as to the sea; lished O’Neill Summer School. This has resulted in considerable owy figure hovering around the edges old age makes me yellow; The foundation of the Gaelic League in The “O’Neill Collection” will include of Irish folklore and myth, yet very lit- though I may grieve thereat, 1893 provided the opportunity and en- transfers of books, manuscripts the incorporation of the extensive and tle is known about her. it approaches its food joyfully. thusiasm to study and develop the Irish and archive material from country highly valuable private collection of language, and the stories of the The word cailleach has come to mean I am Buí, the Old Woman of Beare; to country. Hugo Ó’Neill. I used to wear a smock that was Gaeltacht, the Irish-speaking districts, ‘hag’, or ‘crone’, yet in Old Gaelic it were diligently collected. Some of the books date back to the He is recognised as the present Chief actually means ‘veiled one’. ever-renewed; 16th Century. There is also a collection by descent of the O’Neills of Clanaboy, today it has befallen me, Soon after the establishment of the Irish of Irish literature and a wide range of by the Chief Herald of Ireland based at This conjures up images of early Medi- by reason of my mean estate, Free State, the Folklore of Ireland So- eval Christian nuns, yet it is possible that general religious books. The archives the National Library and by the Clans that I could not have even ciety (An Cumann le Béaloideas date back over 150 years and include of Ireland organisation including the the word has more ancient origins and a cast-off smock to wear. Éireann) was set up and a one-time could refer to the wise-women or fe- the complete records of the Servites in Association of O’Neill Clans. When my arms are seen, assistant to Hyde, a County Antrim man Britain and Ireland. male Druids of pre-Christian and maybe called Séamas Delargy, became the The priory estate is of considerable his- even pre-Celtic times. all bony and thin! - the craft they used to practise editor of its journal Béaloideas. The above collections have undergone toric interest. It was originally a Plan- considerable conservation and are now tation estate, which was later bought The legend of the cailleach can be was pleasant: In 1935, the Irish Folklore Commission found not only in Ireland, but in Scot- they used to be about glorious kings. catalogued for ease of access and by the distiller James Bruce in the late was founded with Delargy as director study. 19th Century. Bruce built the manor land and the Isle of Man, too. She is and full-time folklore collectors were associated with winter, and the crea- The maidens are joyful house and stables and also remodelled when they reach May-day; appointed. They are complemented by the equally Benburb Village. tion of the landscape. important and developing “O’Neill Col- grief is more fitting for me: One of these, Michael J. Murphy, was In Scotland, it is said that if Imbolc (1st I am not only miserable, lection,” which focuses on the associa- After a period of relative disuse, the appointed the Commission’s collector tion of the O’Neill Clans with Benburb estate was used in the Second World of February) dawns clear and bright, it but an old woman. for Ulster east of Donegal. is because the cailleach is out collect- and the rich local history including the War as a field hospital for British, Bel- I have had my day with kings, ‘Battle of Benburb’, the Plantation of gian and U.S. troops. It was bought by ing firewood to keep herself warm drinking mead and wine; Murphy has described his experiences through a long, cold and stormy winter as a collector in Tyrone Folk Quest and Ireland, development of the various the Servites in 1947, and a priory and now I drink whey-and-water strands of Clans of O’Neill and the seminary was opened in 1949. to come. among shriveled old hags. in 1975 published Now You’re Talking, a fine collection of Northern stories. O’Neill diaspora. But if the day dawns wet and wintry, I see on my cloak the stains of age; The priory has evolved over the years the cailleach is still sleeping, and there- my reason has begun to deceive me; In addition to its journal, the society has It also covers the development of the in functional terms, and since the 1980s fore the winter will be a short one. grey is the hair which grows also produced other significant publica- Priory estate (formerly Wingfield/ it has been a major retreat centre and tions over the years, most notably the Powerscourt estate) including its role meeting place for over 30 community The Lament of the Old Woman of through my skin; the decay of an ancient tree basic work, A Handbook of Irish Folk- as a field hospital in World War II, and groups. It has over 20,000 visitors an- Beare is a very (long and) beautiful old lore by Seán Ó Súilleabháin. the significance of the Blackwater val- nually. poem. Here are a selection of verses: is like this. NOVEMBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 17 A small island with an enormous role in the history of the Irish in Canada

QUEBEC CITY – To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Government of Canada offered free admission for all visitors to Parks Canada to encourage people to experience Canada’s history and heritage in a special way. One of these sites is a small island with an enormous role in the history of the Irish in Canada – Grosse-Île and the PHOTO: Collections Canada Irish Memorial National Historic Site is WATERCOLOUR of Grosse-Île from the officers’ quarters, ca. located in the Ile-aux-Grues archipelago 1838-1840. The island of Grosse Île , located in the Gulf of St. near Quebec City. Lawrence in Quebec, was the site of an immigration depot which predominantly housed Irish immigrants coming to Canada In 1997 a memorial was erected in to escape Ireland’s Great Hunger [1845-1849]. memory of those who died on the island and this year over 27,300 people visited the site, a sharp increase from last year. Grosse-Île was the site of an immigration depot which predominantly housed Irish immigrants coming to Canada to escape the ravages of Ireland’s Great Hunger, otherwise known as an Gorta Mór, 1845-1849. Thousands of starving and impover- ished Irish arrived in Canada on dis- eased “coffin ships” during this tragic period. AFTER extensive community consultation in 1994, a memorial was erected at Grosse-Île in memory of those who died on the These ships were intended for trans- island and this year over 27,300 people visited the site. porting lumber, and passengers often arrived at Grosse-Île only to perish from itself, bodies were thrown into the sea, disease in the quarantine sheds. but once the ships had reached Grosse- It is now recognized as the largest burial Île they were kept in the hold until a ground for refugees of the Great Hun- burial on land became possible. ger outside Ireland. Between 1832 and The dead were dragged out of the holds 1937, more than 7,500 people died and with hooks and ‘stacked like cordwood’ were buried on the island, most of them on the shore. Even those passengers Irish who arrived in the “black” sum- who escaped typhus and other diseases mer of 1847. were weakened by the journey. One of the most vivid and disturbing At Quebec, the French and English accounts of that era is recorded by au- speaking Catholic clergy ministered to thor Cecil Woodham-Smith in her book the discharged emigrants and convales- The Great Hunger - Ireland 1845- AUTHOR and activist the late Marianna O’Gallagher was in- cents brought from the island. Father 1849 first published in 1962. McMahon, founder of St. Patrick’s strumental in recognizing the Church (Quebec City), took a leading She quotes Robert Whyte, pseudony- importance of Grosse Île which mous author of 1847 Famine Ship Di- part in organizing relief to the sufferers ary: The Journey of a Coffin Ship, is now officially known as the and orphans of that awful period. who described the voyage onboard the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada. More than 40 Irish and French Cana- sailing ship The Ajax. dian priests and Anglican clergymen “On arrival at Grosse-Île the Irish emi- were active on Grosse-Île, many be- grant passengers on The Ajax dressed coming ill themselves. in their best clothes and helped the crew The Chief Pastor, Bishop Power, con- to clean the ship, expecting to be sent tracted fever and died after delivering either to hospital or on to Quebec after the last sacraments to a dying woman their long voyage. in September. The Mayor of Montreal, “In fact, the doctor inspected them only John Easton Mills, also died in the course briefly and did not return for several of caring for the sick. days. By mid-summer doctors were In 1909 the Ancient Order of examining their charges very perfunc- Hibernians in America set up a Celtic torily, allowing them to walk past and cross on the island with inscriptions in examining the tongues of any who Irish, English and French, in memory looked feverish. of those who died during 1847 and 1848. “In this way, many people with latent This large Celtic cross of grey granite fever were allowed to pass as healthy, from Beebe (Stanstead), Quebec, was only to succumb to their sickness once unveiled high above the water on the they had left Grosse-Île.” rocky promontory at the western end On July 28, 1847, Whyte recorded the of Grosse Île. neglect of his fellow passengers, who On each side of the pedestal are in- “within reach of help were to be left scriptions carved on panels of dark enveloped in reeking pestilence, the sick ONE of the most distinctive landmarks on Grosse-Île is the granite.On the side facing the mass without medicine, medical skill, nourish- graves and the Gulf of the Saint Law- ment, or so much as a drop of pure wa- 46-foot high Celtic Cross. rence beyond, an inscription in Irish ter.” reads, “Children of the Gael died in their However, conditions on other Irish emi- corpses remain[ed] long unburied.” thousands on this island, having fled grant ships were still worse. Two Ca- The exact numbers of those who died from the laws of the foreign tyrants and nadian priests who visited The Ajax at sea is unknown, although Whyte him- an artificial famine in the years 1847- described the holds of other vessels self estimated it at 5,293. 1848. God’s loyal blessing upon them. where they had been “up to their an- Let this monument be a token to their kles in filth. The wretched emigrants Thomas Keneally in his book The Great name and honour from the Gaels of crowded together like cattle and Shame writes that during the crossing America. God save Ireland.” PAGE 18 www.celtic-connection.com NOVEMBER 2017 Unity and Division: Northern Ireland and Catalonia At time of writing Hurricane Ophelia is Brexit decision by the British elector- upending everything moveable (and THE VIEW FROM ate last June has introduced to Europe. many things that were apparently im- IRELAND movable) in Ireland, disproving Ham- What is certain is that the option of se- let’s description of his girlfriend: there cession, be it from a European country or from the European Union itself, is is nothing ‘fair’ about Ophelia. more conceivable now than it was be- It is noteworthy that President Bill fore June 2016. Clinton’s appointment to meet the Northern Irish political leaders on Mon- It is also clear that what enables the day, October 16 was cancelled due to biggest parties in Northern Ireland to the ferocious gusts. By dally over negotiations to restore the Assembly is the full scale constitutional These tempestuous circumstances pro- MAURICE crisis impending in Britain. [PHOTO: Wikipedia] vide pathetic fallacy for the political cli- FITZPATRICK PROTESTS in Barcelona after Spanish police raided Catalan The DUP’s strategy is to consolidate mate just now in Northern Ireland, Brit- Government buildings on September 20, 2017. ain and, most recently, in Spain. its own standing and help to bring di- a few weeks because “we want a rea- rect rule. Northern Irish leaders have not sat to- sonable dialogue.” gether to administer since the Assem- Sinn Féin’s strategy is to wait it out un- In a letter to the Spanish prime minister til (and it is just a matter of time) the bly was suspended in January of this on Monday, October 16, he asked for Bill Clinton year. DUP/Tory government collapses in the two months of such dialogue. hope that, in the midst of the instability Sinn Féin maintained in recent days that Madrid’s response so far is that the in Britain, a more All-Ireland political and Theresa May any notion that an agreement is immi- declaration must be revoked or Catalo- structure may result. nent and that the Assembly will meet nia will face direct rule from Madrid soon has no basis in fact given the Irrespective of what happens, the par- and the regional parliament would be ties surely must see that they will need hold talks on Northern present state of the talks. void. to sit down and practice politics. So isn’t The DUP is equally eager to dispel any As in the case of Northern Ireland if it it high time that they resolved to just hint that agreement is nigh. Is it entirely were again ruled directly from London, get on with their jobs? • Ireland deadlock lost on Sinn Féin and the DUP that they so in the case if Catalonia were ruled have the biggest electoral mandates in [POSTSCRIPT: On October 27, the LONDON – British Prime directly from Madrid: the result would Parliament of Catalonia unilaterally de- the North of Ireland and that failure to be a disaster. Minister Theresa May held resuscitate the Assembly reflects very clared independence from Spain. Within talks with former U.S. presi- badly on them? Catalan political separatism is in con- hours, the Spanish Senate approved siderable measure based on cultural actions proposed by the Spanish Gov- dent Bill Clinton last month Undeterred, Sinn Féin president, Gerry separatism: the Catalans have their own ernment to invoke Article 155 and as- on the continuing political Adams, wrote an article in The Guard- language and they are fiercely proud sume direct control over some of Cata- ian on October 9 in which he was very of the way in which they have success- lonia’s autonomous powers. deadlock in Northern Ireland. explicit in urging leadership on all sides fully fostered its use in all spheres of The measure is intended to be tempo- The meeting in Downing Street on Oc- to confront the constitutional crisis in public life in recent decades. tober 19 followed private discussions Catalonia. rary; its claimed objective is to “re-es- If Madrid directly rules Catalonia, many tablish the rule of law” and hold Parlia- earlier in the week between Clinton and Adams argues that what is required to of the Catalan language rights in public mentary elections within six months. the main Northern Ireland party lead- resolve such problems is “a prepared- ers in Belfast. areas could be rescinded. The first measures taken by Spanish ness to engage in an inclusive process As president, Clinton played a key role of dialogue.” That is a message he might That would be very unwise on the part Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy after the of Madrid, but there is a bad precedent approval by the senate have been fir- in helping to secure the 1998 Good Fri- wish to communicate to his Sinn Féin day Agreement which led to power- colleagues in Belfast. of such practices historically (during ing the Catalan President Carles Franco’s dictatorship); and, in recent Puigdemont and his cabinet, dissolving sharing at Stormont. Catalonia – a very prosperous part of weeks, Madrid’s insensitivity to Cata- the Parliament of Catalonia and sched- Number 10, however, made clear that Spain – has been edging towards a se- lonia’s sense of cultural distinctiveness uling fresh Catalan elections on De- he had not been used to deliver a mes- rious independence bid for several years has been marked. cember 21, 2017. sage on behalf of the government to the now. It is almost certain that the Spanish On November 2, the judge Carmen parties. FORMER U.S. President Bill Its citizens encountered extreme vio- Government will be intolerant of the Lamela of the Spanish National Court The devolved institutions at Stormont Clinton outside Number 10 lence from the Spanish police when rather forthright way the regional ordered that eight members of the de- remain suspended following the collapse they attempted to hold a vote on inde- posed Catalan Government including the Downing Street following his Catalan parliament has asserted its lin- of the administration in January in the meeting with British PM pendence on Sunday, October 1. guistic rights. ex-vice-president Oriol Junqueras be wake of the resignation of the late Mar- remanded in custody without bail. Theresa May. Even granting that holding the referen- So, in an instant, Catalonia would be tin McGuinness as deputy first minis- dum was an unconstitutional act, the in- politically at war with Spain and its sepa- The prosecution requested issuing Eu- ter. Asked by reporters about the prospects ternational community was appalled at ratist leaders and thinkers could dem- ropean Arrest Warrants for Puigdemont As he left after almost an hour at Down- for Brexit, Clinton said, “We didn’t talk the level of violence visited on Catalan onstrate that its culture is being sup- and four other members who left Cata- ing Street, Clinton told reporters, “We much about that. I don’t have much of voters and, consequently, considerable pressed. lonia for Brussels shortly after the dec- had a wonderful talk.” sympathy has transferred from the di- laration.] a portfolio here.” lemma faced by the Spanish Govern- Secondly, since separatism by no means ment in confronting Catalan separatism receives unanimous support in Catalo- to the people of Catalonia. nia, division between those who wish NOVENA TO THE BLESSED herein you are my Mother, Mary, con- to remain Spanish and those who want VIRGIN MARY ceived without sin, pray for us who have The Spanish Government’s reaction to establish a separate Catalan nation Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary (never NOVENAS recourse to thee (three times). Sweet could hardly have been better for would clash. known to fail). O most beautiful flower of Mother, I place this cause in your hands Catalan separatists, who have hardened To add to this potent political cocktail, Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of (three times). Holy Spirit, you who solve their stance with the fresh stimulus of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of all problems, light all roads so that I can state violence against them. the local Catalan police could well side reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God Immaculate Virgin, assist me in God, forever and ever. Amen. – SVS attain my goal. You gave me the Divine with the Catalans and resist the national this my necessity. There are none that gift to forgive and forget all evil against Their counterparts, Spanish unionists, police. • are on the streets to resist any move can withstand your power. O show me NOVENA TO ST. ANTHONY me. This prayer must be said for three towards independence for the region. Already, the Catalan chief of police, herein you are my Mother, Mary, con- O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, days, even after the request is granted ceived without sin, pray for us who have and the favour received, it must be pub- As a result, Spain faces its biggest con- who did not support the national police your love for God and charity for his crea- in their response to the referendum on recourse to thee (three times). Sweet tures, made you worthy, when on earth, lished. – SVS stitutional crisis since General Franco’s Mother, I place this cause in your hands • rule. on October 1, faces the threat of a trial to possess miraculous powers. Encour- for sedition. (three times). Holy Spirit, you who solve aged by this thought, I implore you to NOVENA TO ST. JOSEPH In the past few weeks, Catalonia seems all problems, light all roads so that I can obtain for me (request). O gentle and Oh glorious St. Joseph, thou hast power to have gone through a new constitu- Close to 10 million tourists visit the attain my goal. You gave me the Divine loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever to render possible even things which are tional status with every change of socks. Catalan capital, Barcelona, every year gift to forgive and forget all evil against full of human sympathy, whisper my pe- considered impossible, come to our aid – a staggering figure, well higher than me. This prayer must be said for three tition into the ears of the sweet Infant in our present trouble and distress. The leader of the Catalonia region, the city’s population. Its art, music, foot- days, even after the request is granted Jesus, who loved to be folded in your Take this important and difficult affair Carles Puigdemont, whose sails were ball, food and dance draw people from and the favour received, it must be pub- arms; and the gratitude of my heart will under thy particular protection, that it fully inflated due to the brutal tactics of all over the world. lished. ever be yours. Amen. – SVS may end happily. (Name your request). the Spanish police, declared independ- – PMK, MJ, ED, CC, CK, RD, LM • O dear St. Joseph, all our confidence is ence in Catalonian parliament. For Catalonia to be drawn into both in- • NOVENA TO THE BLESSED in thee, let it not be said that we would ternal schism and a face-off with Ma- NOVENA TO ST. CLARE VIRGIN MARY invoke thee in vain and since thou art He announced, “Today I assume the drid was hardly thinkable until weeks God of mercy you inspired Saint Clara Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary (never so powerful with Jesus and Mary, show mandate for Catalonia to become an in- ago, and yet now it is urgent that Cata- with the love of poverty. By the help of known to fail). O most beautiful flower of that thy goodness equals thy power. dependent state in the form of a repub- lonia and Spain find a diplomatic solu- her prayers may we follow Christ in pov- Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of Amen. St. Joseph, friend of the sacred lic.” tion or face years of anguish. erty of spirit and come to the joyful vi- Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of heart, pray for us. (For favour received) sion of your glory in the Kingom of God Immaculate Virgin, assist me in – CB Then he declared that he was suspend- We will only fully see, with the passing Heaven. We ask this through Our Lord ing the declaration of independence for this my necessity. There are none that Publication of a novena of years, the degree of disunity that the Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and can withstand your power. O show me is $25 monthly NOVEMBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 19 Loughinisland massacre: Startling documentary will take story of injustice to global audience

BELFAST – A brutal massa- wife of the suspected gunman who worked in the canteen of a police sta- cre took place on June 18, tion. Shortly after the atrocity, she made 1994 in the small village of two anonymous calls to police and sent Loughinisland, County Down, a letter to a local SDLP councillor nam- ing the suspects claimed she had a part Northern Ireland. in planning the attack. Members of the Ulster Volun- She was questioned in 1995 and admit- teer Force (UVF), a loyalist ted writing the letter but was never charged. The pair remain married and paramilitary group, burst into the are in business together. Heights Bar with assault rifles Solicitor Niall Murphy, who has worked and fired on the customers, kill- with the victims’ families throughout ing six civilians and wounding their campaign for justice, has ques- five. tioned why the woman was not charged with conspiracy given her alleged ad- The pub was targeted because it was missions to police more than 20 years frequented mainly by Catholics, and ago. was crowded with people watching the Republic of Ireland team playing in the Police also did not probe allegations that 1994 FIFA World Cup. an officer tipped off suspects they were to be arrested. After years of research, Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney has brought re- Following the atrocity, then Northern newed attention to this mysteriously Ireland secretary Sir Patrick Mayhew unsolved sectarian-gangland slaying THE BEREAVED FAMILIES have fought for decades to access information on the attack and visited the area and announced to tel- with his new film No Stone Unturned. for justice and accountability on the loss of their loved ones. evision reporters in his distinctive patri- cian tones that the perpetrators would The documentary claims police were cial Branch officers told him police had The now retired officer claims police in paramilitary attacks, but is thought soon be in jail and no stone would be aware of suspects’ names within 24 an arrest operation in place to catch the cancelled the arrest operation but the to have broken down and been pushed left unturned in the search for justice. hours of the shootings but delayed mak- UVF gang after receiving intelligence attack went ahead anyway. He de- off the road. ing arrests. It also suggests that Spe- from an informer. scribes the prime suspect as “a hate- No-one has ever been convicted of the cial Branch had prior knowledge of the filled bigot.” The car was later crushed by police, murders. Those who died that night were event but failed to act on the warning. However, he claims the informer phoned destroying any further potential eviden- 87-year-old pensioner Barney Greene, police hours before the planned shoot- The car used by the killers was later tial opportunities. his nephew Dan McCreanor (59), Former RUC officer Jimmy Binns, who ing to say it had been called off because found in a farmer’s field. Adrian Rogan (34), brothers-in-law was part of the murder investigation there were problems with the getaway The documentary names all three sus- It had not been set on fire as was usual pects for the first time, as well as the Eamon Byrne (39) and Patrick O’Hare team, told the filmmakers that two Spe- car. (35) and Malcolm Jenkinson (52). ‘A courageous voice against terrorism’, former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave dead at 97 DUBLIN – Integrity was the staunch defender of Irish constitutional nationalism against serious threats from hallmark of Liam Cosgrave’s the IRA and other paramilitary violence private and professional life, through the 1970s. His government took LIAM COSGRAVE'S requiem mass took place at the Church of mourners were told at the a hardline anti-terrorist stance as vio- the Annunciation in Rathfarnham on Saturday, October 7. lence in Northern Ireland threatened to former Taoiseach Liam spill into the Republic. Cosgrave’s funeral Mass on He was regarded as an internationally Saturday, October 7. respected statesman. He was part of the government which declared Ireland Unionists praise Varadkar Cosgrave who died aged 97 years, had a Republic in 1949, he oversaw Ireland turned down a State funeral and re- joining the United Nations, and he ad- for 'shamrock poppy' quested a simple funeral Mass at his dressed the Joint Houses of U.S. Con- Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been local church, the Church of the Annun- gress in 1976. He consistently opposed praised by unionist politicians in the ciation, Rathfarnham, Dublin, where he violence. worshipped for over 80 years. North for wearing a 'shamrock poppy' Cosgrave served as a TD in the Dail in recognition of the Irish soldiers who He attended daily Mass there up to LIAM COSGRAVE [1920 - for almost 40 years and was leader of fought and died in World War I. three months ago, sitting unobtrusively 2017] was a Fine Gael politi- Fine Gael for 12 years. at the rear of the church. cian who served as Taoiseach Senior DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said Chief mourners at his funeral were his Mr Varadkar has provided an example Cosgrave, who led a successful Fine 1973 to 1977. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) 1943 to sons Liam and Ciarán, daughter Mary, of how reconciliation could be promoted Gael-Labour Coalition from 1973 until and extended family. between the two traditions in Ireland 1977, was the son of the first head of 1981. He is pictured above on “respectfully” and “without abandoning "History is the study of the future. Al- government of the Irish Free State, WT St. Patrick’s Day 1976. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was among our core values and beliefs.” Cosgrave. the dignitaries at the mass as were most everything has happened before. former taoisigh Enda Kenny, John Former UUP leader Mike Nesbitt Let history be our guide but let us never He was the last surviving taoiseach He added, “Throughout his life he Bruton, Brian Cowen and Bertie Ahern. posted online that Varadkar was “wear- be its prisoner." born prior to the foundation of the State. worked to protect and defend the demo- ing his own style of poppy in Dáil Father and son dominated Irish politi- cratic institutions of our State, and President Michael D. Higgins, who was Donaldson said he was pleased to see Éireann” adding: “That's leadership. Varadkar wear the shamrock poppy. He cal life for six decades. showed great courage and determina- abroad, was represented by his aide- #respect.” tion in doing so. de-camp Col. Michael Kiernan. said tens of thousands of nationalists Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described him Varadkar's decision to wear the pin, from every county died in the war, and as “a courageous voice against terror- “He always believed in peaceful co- Military policemen carried the coffin, which is distributed by the Irish branch “it is important that their memory is hon- ism” who protected the country in times operation as the only way of achieving which was not draped in the tricolour, of the Royal British Legion, got a mixed oured alongside those of the unionist of crisis. a genuine union between the people on into the church. The Army band led the reaction on social media and Sinn Féin tradition.” this island, and in the 1970s he cel- funeral procession to the cemetery af- Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn was “As taoiseach he played an important ter the mass. He added, “If we are to have a shared role in the Sunningdale Agreement, ebrated that this country had embarked, quoted as saying it remains a “divisive in his own words, ‘on a new career of future and to promote reconciliation be- which helped pave the way for the later A firing party fired a three volley salvo symbol” in Ireland. tween our two traditions, then we must agreements culminating in the Good progress and development in the con- close to the grave and the Last Post text of Europe’.” Addressing his decision to wear the have a better sense of our shared his- Friday Agreement and peace on this and Reveille was performed after the badge, the Taoiseach posted on Twit- tory and commemorate it with due re- island,” said Varadkar. Cosgrave is chiefly remembered as a burial. ter: spect.” PAGE 20 www.celtic-connection.com NOVEMBER 2017 Flights between EU and UK could be suspended on day of Brexit LONDON – British Chancel- lor Philip Hammond has said it is “theoretically conceivable” that all flights between the EU and the UK could be suspended on the day Britain leaves the EU. He said that while highly unlikely there is a possibility that if the UK leaves without a deal there could be no “air traffic” on March 29, 2019. He said, “It is theoretically conceivable PHOTO: Guilhem Baker that in a no deal scenario there will be EXTERIOR building cladding is thought to have contributed to no air traffic moving between the UK PHILIP HAMMOND, Chancellor of the Exchequer said that rapid spread of the deadly fire at Grenfell Towers last June. and the European Union on the 29th gloomy economic forecasts for the UK are due in part to the March 2019. But I don’t think anybody seriously believes that that is where we uncertainty caused by Brexit deadlock. Fire at factory owned will get to. “There is a range of outcomes and what was introduced in the 1990s, currently being grounded. we will need to do at a point in time is provides uniform rules for the airlines by Grenfell Towers determine what is a realistic worst case and airports of member states. In a pointed rebuke of Eurosceptic Tory scenario that we need to plan for and MPs Hammond also said that the UK invest for. It has helped cultivate a booming air- will not spend money on planning for a cladding manufacturer port network allowing British holiday- no deal scenario “earlier than neces- “On that specific point it is very clear makers to fly to hundreds of destina- sary just to make some demonstration LONDON – A factory owned Eight fire engines were sent to tackle that mutual self-interest means that tions on the continent – many at cut point.” by the maker of Grenfell Tow- the blaze, which started accidentally, even if talks break down, even if there prices. along with additional support vehicles. is no deal, there will be a very strong He said that every pound spent on pre- er’s cladding panels was the compulsion on both sides to reach agree- ACI Europe, the European Region Air- paring for no deal now is a pound that By 2:30 AM, the fire had spread to part ports Council International, which rep- is not available for the NHS or social scene of a large fire over the of the roof of the factory, but firefight- ment on an air traffic services arrange- ment.” resents more than 500 airports in 45 care. weekend. ers using breathing apparatus brought countries, including 21 major hubs in the it under control and extinguished it be- The UK’s largest airports, including UK, said in July this year such free- He said, “What I am not proposing to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue fore 3 AM. The factory’s furnace area Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, do is allocate funds to departments in Service was called to the production dom will not be maintained if the Brit- was damaged by the fire and smoke, have previously warned the government ish Government does not develop a strat- advance of the need to spend.” plant of Arconic in Exeter just before but there were no injuries reported. that flights to Europe could be sus- 1:30 AM on Saturday, November 4. egy on “air connectivity” once outside He added, however, that the Treasury In June, Arconic announced it was stop- pended if it fails to reach a deal on avia- the EU. has allocated £250 million to British The U.S. firm produces the Reynobond tion in the wake of Brexit. ping global sales of Reynobond PE clad- It warned that legal issues could result Government departments to begin early PE panels, installed as one component ding for tall buildings, citing concerns The EU Open Skies agreement, which in all flights between the EU and UK preparations for a no deal scenario. of the west London block’s cladding about the “inconsistency of building system during a refurbishment. codes across the world.” It is suspected that the material, which It said in a separate statement that the is coated in aluminium but has a plastic, panels were provided to a company flammable core, helped fuel the devas- which supplied them to the facade in- Get Brexit negotiations tating blaze in June. staller working on behalf of the con- Fire crews rushed to the factory on tractor for Grenfell Tower’s refurbish- Kestral Way following reports of a fire ment. back on track says Wales in the casting plant at its foundry sec- The company wrote at the time, “We tion. were not involved in the installation of First Minister Carwyn Jones The fire service said, “Due to the po- the system, nor did we have a role in tential serious nature of this incident and any other aspect of the building’s re- CARDIFF – Wales First Min- knowledge of the type of building in- furbishment or original design.” ister Carwyn Jones says the volved, fire control made the decision To date, 69 people have been confirmed UK Government should stop to redirect fire appliances from other dead in the Grenfell Tower fire by the lower priority incidents in the area to authorities, although police have said talking up a Brexit no deal and ensure fire service resources were in they believe the final death toll will be instead get the negotiations attendance as soon as possible.” about 80. back on track. He said walking away from the talks would cause chaos and lasting damage Gordon Brown warns to the UK’s economy and future security. of Brexit 'crisis point' His comments come just a day after British PM Theresa May said it was LONDON – Former prime minister they’re going to be crossed. her “mission” to negotiate a new post- Gordon Brown has warned that the UK Brexit partnership with the EU. may hit a "crisis point next summer" as “So we will not have proper control of the UK edges closer to Brexit and held borders, we will not have proper con- May made it clear a no deal scenario CARWYN JONES and Theresa May pictured in March this trol of our money, we’re still going to out the possibility that the UK may not was still an option as she insisted the year. leave the EU. pay loads of money to the European government was preparing for every Union. eventuality. come, not preparing contingency plans, A spokesman for the UK Government Speaking to the BBC he said that he is what we must focus on. said, “We are committed to securing a “We will not have proper control of our Jones referred to a series of organisa- was not now advocating a second ref- deal that works for the entire UK in- courts and laws because we will still tions, such as the British Medical As- erendum, but suggested that there "may “To do otherwise would be like a pas- cluding Wales, and are continuing to be governed in many ways by the Eu- sociation, British Retail Consortium and be scope for a reassessment" as voters senger on the Titanic who, upon seeing engage with the devolved administra- ropean Court of Justice and we will not the Freight Transport Association, who began to realise, he suggested, that the an iceberg, chooses to find his lifejacket tions as we seek to secure that deal. promises of the Leave side of the ref- have proper control of trade because have warned in the last month of the and pack his things, rather than rushing erendum campaign would not be ful- we won’t have individual trade agree- risks to Britain of a no deal. to the bridge and desperately attempt- “While it is the duty of a responsible ments for years. ing to alert the captain of the disaster government to plan for all scenarios, we filled. Speaking in the Senedd on October 24, ahead. are clear that a deep and special part- “And so all the propositions that were he said, “The UK Government and the He suggested that there could be a nership with the EU is the most likely made by the Leave camp, including gung-ho Brexiteers must wise up and "game changer" from the EU side that “The UK Government must concentrate outcome. allowed the UK to rethink. £350 million, remember, a week for the listen to what the experts are saying. on reaching a credible position on our National Health Service, they’re not exit terms so that the December Euro- “We are confident of securing a bold “No deal is unthinkable. It would be “By next summer, the public will have being achieved.” pean Council can move negotiations into and ambitious deal with the EU – this impossible to mitigate the effects of made up their minds that the four ‘red the second phase and very rapidly there- is ultimately in the best interests of both Brown insisted the position will have to such a disastrous conclusion to the lines’ that the Government had actually after agree a transition phase of at least sides.” set in place are not going to be achieved, be assessed next summer when “crisis Brexit negotiations. Preventing this out- point” is reached. two years.” NOVEMBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 21 U.S. President Trump – half-Scottish, but no warm welcome mat in Alba EDINBURGH – Donald attempts to take possession of private Scotland wanted to remain in the EU homes and land through eminent do- you utter Twonk - Who is using the Trump may be half Scottish, main laws, also expressed their displeas- Trump family brain cell today?” but the people of Scotland ure by raising Mexican flags over ad- joining properties. And, another classic: “@realDonald have a decidedly chilly view Trump Scotland voted to remain you of the 45th President of the Michael Forbes, a farmer whose ef- bankrupt traffic cone.” forts to fight Trump’s Aberdeen course United States. got him voted Scotsman of the Year in While on his visit, all five Holyrood lead- 2012, erected a Mexican flag on his ers publicly opposed Trump’s election His mum – Mary Anne MacLeod and refused to meet the presumptive Trump – was born on the isle of property which is visible from the golf course. Republican candidate. Robert Gordon Lewis before heading to America University in Aberdeen also rescinded in 1930 at the age of 18. During his visit, Trump reacted with his honorary degree. celebration and self-interest to the re- If anyone else with such direct links to cent Brexit vote, predicting that it would First Minister Nicola Sturgeon criticised Scotland had made it to the White benefit his business. him over his remarks about Muslims and House he would be claimed as Scottish dropped him as a business ambassador A YOUNG Donald Trump pictured with his mother, the late Mary in the same way the Irish embraced “Look, if the pound goes down, they’re for Scotland, but soon after his election Anne MacLeod Trump who arrived in the U.S. in 1930. JFK. going to do more business,” he said, she spoke with him by phone and of- when asked during a news conference fered congratulations. That’s certainly the view of the former about the referendum’s market ramifi- boss of Scottish Enterprise, Jack Perry cations. “When the pound goes down, Sturgeon has continued to speak out when she disagrees with Trump but she who says, “Had it been anyone else, by more people are coming to Turnberry, golly, we’d have been rolling out the red frankly.” has also said she would be prepared to carpet. meet him if he returns to Scotland. He compounded the insult with a Twit- “Just touting the fact that he had such ter post cheering on the Scottish for Sturgeon’s Labour predecessor as first a close relationship and had been a “taking their country back.” minister, Lord McConnell, thinks that’s major investor here. But the brand is the right approach. He wrote, “Just arrived in Scotland. toxic, there’s no two ways about it,” he “I think it is possible, if you are in a said. Place is going wild over the vote. They took their country back, just like we will leadership role, to have a strong opin- ion about somebody or about what they And that’s the problem. Donald Trump take America back. No games!” may be half-Scottish but he is wholly are doing, to be able to express that controversial. During the U.S. presiden- The problem, of course, is that Scot- publicly if you have to but also to take tial election campaign he was not ex- land voted 62 percent to 38 percent to opportunities to raise those issues pri- actly welcomed with open arms on his remain in the European Union. vately and to do other business as well,” last visit to his maternal homeland in he said. Trump faced immediate backlash, fur- U.S. PRESIDENTIAL candidate Donald Trump at the Trump June 2016. ther compounding an already difficult McConnell recalled having twice met relationship with the nation. President Putin of Russia and visits to International Golf Links at Balmedie, near Aberdeen in Scot- Protesters greeted him with golf balls land on Saturday, June 25, 2016. emblazoned with Swastikas – a symbol Scotland by Chinese leaders with whom Among the responses, one read: he also had significant disagreements. synonymous with Nazi Germany – while “@realDonaldTrump you couldn’t be She is hopeful of an early post-Brexit May offered President Trump a state visiting his golf courses in Ayrshire and more out of touch with reality if Nessie As British prime minister, Theresa May, trade deal with the U.S. but that hasn’t visit to the UK which he accepted but Aberdeen. bit you on the arse you utter fool. Scot- was the first international leader to stopped her disagreeing with Trump’s has yet to make. Many now believe approach on issues like Iran or climate when he does make that trip, Scotland Local residents, upset by both Trump’s land voted REMAIN.” travel to meet President Trump in the White House after his inauguration. change. will be part of his itinerary. anti-immigrant rhetoric and his earlier Another posted: “@realDonaldTrump Nicola Sturgeon: ‘Ireland and Scotland AN IRISH allies in Brexit negotiations’ international DUBLIN – The Scottish first growth of a global economy is matched border point. minister told an audience of by a focus on inclusion. business leaders in Dublin Sturgeon said leaving the single market will be deeply damaging for Scotland’s last month that she will argue businesses, universities, trade and jobs. EU leaders finding for the Irish border to remain “On virtually every issue of substance open in the wake of the UK’s relating to Brexit, the Irish Government it hard to understand split from Europe. – and the Irish business community as a whole – has an ally in Scotland,” the She also said the Republic and first minister said. UK position on Brexit Scotland are united on virtually “Like you, we didn’t want Brexit. Like LONDON – European leaders are find- bership but none of the responsibilities every issue of substance relat- you, we support single market and cus- ing it hard to understand the UK’s po- and none of the costs. If you join a club, toms union membership. sition on Brexit due to mixed messages you obey the rules and you pay the ing to Brexit. from the country, Ireland’s prime min- membership fee.” “And, like you, we know that Ireland’s ister has said. During her visit, Sturgeon expanded on circumstances require particular atten- The UK has previously been criticised the links between two Celtic countries, tion and we will argue strongly for an Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the am- by EU leaders over claims that the coun- with bonds of language, culture and iden- open border. biguity meant the other 27 nations in the try’s Brexit plans lack sufficient depth tity. EU are struggling to grasp what the UK or detail. “We believe that those positions are in wants from negotiations. After talks with Irish Taoiseach Leo SCOTTISH First Minister the best interests of Scotland, of Ire- The UK Government has denied this, Varadkar, Sturgeon told an audience of Nicola Sturgeon. land, and of everybody on these is- “It’s still not clear what the UK actu- with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson about 1,500 business figures that stay- lands.” ally wants in terms of a new relation- urging the EU to “get on” with talks to ing in the European single market and pean Union, it should remain a member ship, because on the one hand it seems ensure timely progress is made. the customs union is the obvious answer of the single market and the customs Sturgeon told business figures the glo- that the UK wants to have a close trad- to the negotiations. union. bal political developments are a chal- ing relationship with Europe like it has Meanwhile, Irish Foreign Minister lenge to build a fair and inclusive soci- Simon Coveney has strongly signalled “The fact that the UK Government is “In my view, that is the obvious com- now, but it also seems to want some- ety. thing different, and it is very hard for that Brexit negotiations could be blocked committed to leaving the EU means that promise solution. It’s democratically from moving on to trade talks unless Scotland – like Ireland, and like North- justified – the vote to leave was a very She added, “Scotland certainly hasn’t us as European prime ministers to understand exactly what the UK wants the UK gives more clarity on the bor- ern Ireland – now faces a dilemma narrow one across the UK and two of got everything right, but – like Ireland der. which is not of our choosing. the four nations of the UK chose to re- – I think that we are at least facing up the new relationship to look like,” he main.” to the right issues. said. He said customs checks would be una- “We want to remain a full member of voidable if the UK and EU are not in the EU but face being taken out against In her speech to the Dublin Chamber, “That’s important from a political, so- In an interview with the BBC’s Spot- light, he said, “It certainly can’t be, and the same customs union. He also said our will,” she said. “We deeply regret she emphasised the social and economic cial and moral perspective – and it’s also the UK had so far not provided a “cred- that. However, we believe that if the links between Scotland and Ireland, and crucial to ensuring that our economic I think anyone will understand it can’t be, having all the benefits of EU mem- ible road map” to avoiding a hard bor- UK is determined to leave the Euro- noted the shared interest in ensuring the policies are successful and sustainable.” der. PAGE 22 www.celtic-connection.com NOVEMBER 2017 Seattle Elects New Irish-American Mayor EATTLE – Jenny Durkan, whose grand- father was from Co. Mayo, will be the new S Mayor of Seattle, the city’s first openly lesbian mayor and Seattle’s first female mayor since the 1920s. Art History + Design at the University By JOHN KEANE STUDENTS from Eastlake and Skyline High Schools in Sammamish recently met on the Gaelic of Washington. Football field to determine the 2017 winner of the Irish President’s Trophy which was presented Jenny’s father Martin Durkan Sr was in 2015 by Irish President Michael D. Higgins when he visited Skyline HS. This year’s winner Although about at press time one born in Montana, the son of Martin after a hard-fought game was Eastlake HS, the students on the left side in the photo. third of the votes remain to be Durkan from County Mayo. counted, she’s currently winning From 1956-1976, Durkan Senior served with a roughly 60-40 percent split two years in the Washington state SEATTLE IRISH NEWS of the vote. House and 18 years in the Senate, becoming chairman of the Senate Ways She had previously served as the United and Means Committee. States Attorney for the Western Dis- PASSINGS cember 9 with Tacoma’s on Decem- ber 8. trict of Washington under President After unsuccessful races for governor • Sister Kieran Kennedy, CSJP, 89, a Obama from October 2009 through Sep- and Congress, he became one of the native of Galway, died in Bellevue Concerts will also be held in Kent, tember 2014. most-influential lobbyists in Olympia. October 28; Mount Vernon, Bellevue, Portland and Leavenworth, featuring the lyri- The Mayorship is a non-partisan office Often compared to the Kennedys, all • Merle Braden (83) whose daugh- cal and joyful sounds of Celtic harps, but Seattle is a Democratic city and a eight Durkan children are involved in ter Donna O Murchadha lives in public life. hammered dulcimers, violins, cello, Republican hasn’t been able to mount Cork, died in Centralia October 26; By whistles, concertina, percussion and a serious race here in 20-30 years. Sister Kathleen is a former NBC News JOHN • Maureen Fitzpatrick (93) a native more. Durkan is not married but she and her foreign correspondent; a brother, Tim, of Dublin, died in Seattle on October KEANE longtime partner, Dana Garvey, have was a special assistant to Seattle Mayor This grand gala of Celtic-inspired 13; two sons. Garvey previously ran a tel- Greg Nickels, and another daughter, Floor, Seattle. The RView is the Elite holiday music is filled with Irish sing- ecommunications project management Ryan, is one of Seattle’s leading attor- • Ron Plummer (73) an Irish Danc- Member Club Lounge on the 28th ing, dancing, juggling, caroling and neys whose practice focuses on envi- firm but is currently writing a disserta- ing teacher and adjudicator, died Oc- floor of the Renaissance Seattle Ho- storytelling. For the details, visit: tion for her PhD at the School of Art + ronmental and land use law. tober 9 in Ontario, Canada; tel, with great views of the Space magicalstrings.com. • Sister Frances Cusack OP (89) a Needle and downtown Seattle. AFFINITI CONCERT – The Kirkland native of Co. Mayo, died September Appetizers and a free drink will be Performance Center hosts a concert 11 in Burien; served to all attendees. For more de- by Irish trio, Affiniti on Friday, Decem- ber 8 at 8 PM. • Mike Boylan (86) a native of Dub- tails, visit: Irish Network Seattle on lin who lived in the Seattle area for Facebook. Affiniti is a powerhouse female trio almost 50 years, died in California HS GAA GAME – Skyline High School made up of vocalist Emer Barry (so- August 7; and Eastlake High School recently prano), Aisling Ennis (harp) and Mary McCague (violin), all classically • Anne Kennedy (92), a longtime competed in six abbreviated Gaelic trained and masters of their instru- member of the Irish Heritage Club, Football games at Skyline High ments. both of whose parents were Irish im- School in Sammamish, and the Irish migrants, died in Seattle June 8; Presidential Trophy was presented Their show combines the mystery of afterwards to the winner, Eastlake Celtic Music with the Magic of Christ- Ar dheis D‚ go raibh a n-anamacha HS. mas, and will also feature Howard dílse Crosby, nephew of Bing Crosby. May their faithful souls rest at Both schools competed well and the Tickets at: kpcenter.org. God’s right hand schools were about even on skill but Eastlake showed tremendous MISCELLANEOUS SEATTLE GAELS – The Seattle physicality and speed. JENNY DURKAN was elected mayor of Seattle on Tuesday, Gaels’ annual banquet will be held • Contact [email protected] for de- November 7, following a tightly contested race. She gave a on Friday, December 8 at their spon- The Irish Presidential Trophy was tails on the next meeting of the Irish victory speech at the Westin Hotel in downtown Seattle follow- sor pub, St. Andrews Bar and Grill donated by Irish President Michael Book Club; ing her historic win. on 74th and Aurora in Seattle. D. Higgins when he visited Skyline High School in October 2015. • Geoffrey Castle’s Celtic Christmas In the meantime, there’s also the 12th on Saturday, December 23, at the Annual Turkey Bowl and Poc Fada Last year’s winner was Skyline HS. Northshore Performing Arts Center, on Saturday, November 18, starting The games are co-sponsored by 18125 92nd Avenue NE, Bothell. Call Ireland celebrates at 11 AM at Lakewood Park, 11050 Cascade Youth Gaelic Games. (425) 984-2471. 10th Avenue SW, in Seattle’s White CELTIC YULETIDE – Magical Strings’ • Plans are underway for the cel- Center area. For more details, e- Che Guevara’s 39th Annual Celtic Yuletide Concert ebration of Nollaig na mBan (Wom- mail: [email protected] or visit: series starts November 26 in King- en’s Christmas) on January 6. Mark Seattle Gaels on Facebook. ston and Seattle’s concert will be De- your calendar. Irish roots with a stamp SENIORS’ LUNCHEON – The Irish DUBLIN – The Republic of Ireland Seniors’ Christmas luncheon at $10 marked the 50th anniversary of the per person ($20 non-seniors), will be death of Che Guevara, on October 9, at noon on Saturday, December 9, with a commemorative postage stamp. at Assumption Church Hall, 6201 It’s become hugely popular, but it’s also 33rd Avenue NE, 8-10 blocks north causing quite a stink. east of University Village. The stamp, features a famous image of All seniors of Irish birth, descent or Guevara by Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick, interest are welcome along with their which appears on t-shirts, posters, spouses and friends. Our special badges and clothing worldwide and is guest on the day is Daidí na Nollag now rated among the world’s top 10 (Father Christmas). most iconic images. CHE GUEVARA features on Over 400 different Irish seniors, the That image was itself reproduced by new one euro stamp issued by majority of them Irish-born, have at- Fitzpatrick, who based it on a photo- An Post, the Irish postal serv- tended these luncheons over the graph taken in 1960 by Cuban photog- ice. rapher Alberto Korda. past six years. For reservations, call (425) 582-2688 and include names features on the envelope issued by the Born in Argentina, Guevara helped Fi- of guests. del Castro overthrow the U.S.-backed An Post to accompany the stamp. THE COALITION of Irish Immigration Centers recently cel- dictator Fulgencio Batista. His father Not only has the stamp created contro- CHRISTMAS PARTY – You’re invited ebrated its 20th anniversary with a reception at the Irish Em- was Ernesto Guevara Lynch, a civil versy in Ireland, it has also incensed Cu- to attend the annual Irish Network bassy in Washington, D.C. where Seattle’s Jim Cummins was engineer of Irish descent. ban Americans in Miami, who’ve started Seattle Christmas party on Saturday, presented an award for his service. (L-R) Ronnie Millar (Phila- a letter-writing campaign to the postal December 9 from 6:30-10:30 PM at delphia), Celine Kennelly (San Francisco), Jim Cummins, Am- A quote from Ernesto, “in my son’s the RView, 515 Madison Street 28th veins flowed the blood of Irish rebels” service in Dublin. bassador Dan Mulhall, and Paul Finnegan (New York). NOVEMBER 2017 www.celtic-connection.com PAGE 23 Apple moves holdings to Ireland at risk of having to compensate thousands new tax haven on Jersey of women travelling abroad after Ireland crackdown Dáil committee told LONDON – New revelations from the our tax payments in any country.” In a DUBLIN – Ireland is at risk of having compensation after she had to travel to Paradise Papers – a huge leak of fi- further statement it stressed that no to pay costly compensation to thousands Liverpool for an abortion in 2010 after nancial documents – is throwing light operations or investments had been of women forced to travel abroad to being told her unborn child had a con- on the controversial world of offshore moved from Ireland. receive an abortion unless the law is genital brain malformation classified as finance. But in preparation for a change to Ire- immediately changed to make the pro- a fatal foetal abnormality. cedure legal and easily accessible, the Records from Appleby, a top offshore land’s tax policy Apple recruited In a ruling earlier this year, the United law firm, reveal a client list that is a Appleby, the Bermuda-based law firm Oireachtas Eighth Amendment committee heard this month. Nation’s human rights committee said who’s who of the world’s wealthiest for advice on where to next move its Whelan received no support in Ireland citizens, including Queen Elizabeth II, offshore tax residency. The U.S.-based Center for Reproduc- and that what happened to her amounted Bono and Madonna. Appleby specializes in helping clients tive Rights (CRR) made the claim af- to cruel, inhumane and degrading treat- Reports in The New York Times, The lower their tax burden, and this search ter the State paid out 30,000 euro over ment. an abortion case for only the second Guardian, and BBC News include de- for the ideal tax haven is common prac- The Government subsequently agreed tails how Apple moved two subsidiar- tice among multinational companies in time in its history in response to a aries that were effectively stateless for United Nations ruling on the matter. to pay Whelan compensation, mirror- ies to Jersey after a crackdown in the taxation purposes, and so incurred constant pursuit of the best (lowest) tax ing a similar pay out to another woman Republic of Ireland. hardly any tax. rate. Speaking at the latest Oireachtas Eighth named Amanda Mellet earlier this year. The tech giant is revealed to have The Paradise Papers are a huge batch Amendment committee meeting as two Instead of paying Irish corporation tax pro-life organisations cancelled planned Asked by Independents4Change TD moved the firm holding most of its vast of 12.5 percent, or the U.S. rate of 35 of leaked documents mostly from Clare Daly of the Oireachtas Eighth untaxed offshore cash reserve to the Appleby, along with corporate registries meetings with the group and pro-life percent, Apple’s avoidance structure Independent TD Mattie McGrath ac- Amendment Committee “where Ireland Channel Islands in 2014. helped it reduce its tax rate on profits in 19 tax jurisdictions, which reveal the needs to get to” to protect the State financial dealings of politicians, celeb- cused committee members of “bully- Located near the coast of Normandy, outside of the U.S. to the extent that its ing,” the CRR said Ireland remains at from further cases as “presumably there foreign tax payments rarely amounted rities, corporate giants and business are much more cases,” CRR regional Jersey is described by The Guardian leaders. risk of further abortion pay-outs. as “a crown dependency of the UK, to more than five percent of its foreign director for Europe Leah Hoctor said which makes its own laws.” Only profits, and in some years dipped be- The 13.4 million records were passed On November 8, it emerged the Gov- Ireland “must make abortion services 100,000 people live there and it is not low two percent. to German newspaper Sueddeutsche ernment has agreed to pay Wexford practically accessible now.” woman Siobhan Whelan 30,000 euro in subject to most EU legislation, making Other European governments lobbied Zeitung and then shared with the In- it a popular tax haven. to put an end to the Double Irish back ternational Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Apple sought a new tax shelter when in 2014 and last year, the European the European Union began pressuring Union ordered Apple to pay up to $14.5 Apple’s Tim Cook calls the EC ruling Ireland to fix loopholes that had for billion for illegal tax benefits in Ireland. “total political crap,” with “no reason years so effectively drawn mega-cor- Apple has over 6,000 employees in Ire- for it in fact or in law.” porations to form subsidiaries and shell land and has long insisted it pays eve- Ireland says the EU is encroaching on companies there because of the coun- rything it legally owes in taxes. try’s minimal corporate tax rate and sovereign taxation. It fears multination- business-friendly tax regime. In a statement, the company says it is als will go elsewhere, however it agreed the world’s largest taxpayer paying over to collect 13 billion euro to be held in a The Irish corporate tax structure was $35 billion in corporate income taxes managed escrow account pending the so popular among tech companies like over the past three years, plus billions appeal verdict. Google and Facebook that it had a nick- more in property tax, payroll tax, sales In October 2017, the EU said it will take name – Double Irish. This allowed Ap- tax and VAT. ple to funnel all its sales outside of the Ireland to court as it has not yet col- Americas – currently about 55 percent The company says that it had followed lected the money. Ireland says it is com- of its revenue – through Irish subsidi- the law and its changes “did not reduce plicated and it needs time. Thousands Rally in Dublin Against Ireland’s Abortion Ban DUBLIN – Thousands of people marched in Dublin on September 30 to demand an end to the country’s constitutional ban on abortion, one of the strictest such laws in the Western world. The March for Choice is an annual protest against the Eighth Amend- ment to the Irish Constitution, which enshrines a ban on abortions, but this year it was held just days after the government announced it would hold a referendum next year that could poten- tially change the law. IRELAND recently announced it will hold a referendum next year which could have implications for the Eighth Amendment The existing Eighth Amendment of Ire- of the Irish Constitution. This clause amended in 1983 extends land’s constitution affords equal rights equal rights to pregnant women and unborn children. to pregnant women and unborn children. Added to the constitution in 1983, the amendment recognises an unborn child’s The death in 2012 of Savita ple took part in the march. right to life. Halappanavar, a dentist who was 17 weeks pregnant, both reignited the de- Anti-abortion activists staged smaller Terminations are currently only permit- bate and galvanized a new generation scale events elsewhere in Dublin and ted when the life of the mother is at of abortions rights advocates. in other cities across Ireland but, unlike risk and the maximum penalty for ac- previous years, there was no evidence cessing an illegal abortion in Ireland is Doctors at a hospital in Galway refused of direct counter-protests on the route 14 years in prison. to terminate her pregnancy while she of the march. was having a miscarriage. She died of It was the sixth annual March for Thousands of Irish women travel to septicemia. Great Britain every year to have a le- Choice organised by the Abortion Rights gal abortion. Organisers estimated that 40,000 peo- Campaign (ARC). PAGE 24 www.celtic-connection.com NOVEMBER 2017 France has always been famous for its cuisine and our visit to the city of Lille didn’t disappoint AST weekend my I am still drooling over the meal I had, POSTCARD one of the best I have ever eaten. wife and I de- FROM LILLE cided to go away The small restaurant is called N’Autre Monde. The address is Rue du Cure for a few days to Saint-Etienne, Lille. PHOTO: Wikipedia lcelebrate our The meal began with the tiny pre-starter NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS (meaning “Our Lady of Paris”), also wedding anniversary. called the “mise en bouche,” which lit- known as Notre-Dame Cathedral or simply Notre-Dame, is a erally translated means “put it in your We were not keen to endure the aggra- mouth.” medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in the fourth vation of airports, so decided to take arrondissement of Paris, France. The cathedral is widely con- the Eurostar high speed train to Lille, By Very French, I mean where else would sidered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic 180 miles away near the Belgian bor- ELFAN you put it? architecture, and it is among the largest and most well-known der in Northern France. JONES Anyway, the mise en bouche was church buildings in the world. We boarded the train in London at 9:30 smoked cod with a garlic mousse. Why we did that is not clear, but I think AM and one hour and 22 minutes later The first course was crab salad with we were in full tourist mode by that arrived in the centre of Lille. mango and coriander, followed by kefta My visit to Notre-Dame time...and finally, a city bus tour which lamb wrapped cabbage leaf and served To travel the 150 miles from London to is a great way of seeing the main points with humous. Cardiff in Wales by our regular trains, of interest in any city because you are Cathedral, Paris takes two hours and eight minutes (if seated. Next up was barbue, which is a fish you’re lucky), but Eurostar runs at an with broccoli and a homemade salsa By MARIE BRUCE France has always been famous for its average speed of 150 miles per hour. sauce. I was on a visit to Paris in June. Shortly cuisine, and although I would argue that after arrival jet lag woke me at some It sometimes seems that the regular the standard of many UK restaurants The dessert was a cheesecake with trains here have a man with a red flag ungodly hour and I had to get up and go is equally good, there is always that exotic fruits. for a very early walk. walking in front of them to keep the special excitement when entering a cows off the line. French restaurant. Harry Baclet the charming owner It was a beautiful warm summer morn- served us and I let him choose the Lille is the fifth largest city in France ing and I had no particular route in mind Having said that, when I worked in wines. – I love wandering in Paris and it is al- with a population of a little over 250,000, Paris I often wondered if there was a and amazingly 28 percent of the popu- He did not disappoint and the whole ways easy to get the metro back to my school that the Parisian waiters at- hotel. lation is under the age of 20 – conse- tended that taught them to be bloody experience was perfect. quently the place has a young vibrant rude. If you ever visit Lille, then N’Autre I soon found myself on the Île de la Cité feel to it. and there in front of me was Notre- On our weekend away, we ate in three Monde is the place for fine dining. When we arrived, we assumed that Dame Cathedral in all its glory in the of the Trip Advisor recommended res- Just writing this has made me very hun- early morning light. How could anyone there must be a high number of students taurants. gry, so I will now go to the kitchen and living there because as we walked into pass this glorious cathedral without a Two were fairly average but, the one rustle up some gourmet baked beans visit? the Place du General de Gaulle (the on toast. main square), we saw the Column of we chose for our anniversary was just I have visited Notre-Dame at least fabulous, sensational. Au revoir. the Goddess, a 30-foot pillar with a Elfan twice before and I had no intention of sculpture of a woman on top of it doing so again. Paris is full of churches (erected in1845 in memory of the 1792 I have never visited but it didn’t take MARIE BRUCE as she pre- siege of Lille). long to change my mind and I made pares to depart from her recent European sojourn. She is now sporting an eye catching my way to the front entrance. large pink bra which we thought had to There are usually very long lineups in be the work of students. It turned out the summer and this year there was that we were wrong, because the gar- heightened security with a strong pres- ment was the initiative of local business ence of armed guards. to raise awareness of breast cancer. It was about 7:45 AM and I knew there In the UK many of the main shopping would be an 8 AM mass. I was allowed streets and shopping malls contain the to walk straight into the cathedral when same chain stores, especially the smaller I mentioned I wanted to attend Mass. towns, as sadly independently owned businesses close down, unable to com- Most of the interior of this great cathe- pete and pay the higher rents that the dral is usually cordoned off, leading visi- large chain stores can afford. tors in an onward direction to keep the line-ups moving. As a result, town centres in the UK are losing their individuality and their per- On this morning, I was surprised when sonality and they all begin to look the the attendant ushered mass goers into same. the highly ornate carved choir stalls. What a privilege it was to enter this in- In France these chain stores seem con- ner sanctum just below the high altar. fined to shopping malls and the streets MAGNIFICENT detailed crafts- are filled with individual stores. I sat there soaking up the atmosphere of centuries, gazing about in wonder at manship on the exterior of The cobbled streets of Lille are packed the carvings, the paintings, and the glo- Notre-Dame Cathedral. with little boutiques, patisserie and IN PLACE DU GENERAL DE GAULLE, the main square in rious stained glass. chocolate shops, and we spent hours Lille, there is a 30-foot pillar with a sculpture known as “the low the high altar. Mass started imme- admiring the wonderful displays. column of the Goddess” (erected in1845 in memory of the I joined a few other mass goers there – diately, but I was puzzled...where were 1792 siege of Lille). She is now sporting an eye catching large mainly Americans with cameras who, the altar boys, the bells, the flowers, the It was heaven for my wife who has a like myself, could not believe their good smell of incense, the lighted candles, and masters degree in shopping, but merci- pink bra which as it turns out was the initiative of local busi- fortune to be in the choir stalls of Notre- the music? fully for me there were plenty of little ness to raise awareness of breast cancer. Dame Cathedral. cafes to pop into for a reviving beer. I was taken aback. Here I was, kneel- It is easy to imagine the historic and ing in the very ornate choir stalls in glo- On the Sunday, when most of the shops world events that have taken place here rious Notre-Dame Cathedral – the very are closed, we must have walked at More Facts About Lille as Notre-Dame has played an all im- center of religious and political life in least eight miles, visiting the enormous Lille is a city at the northern tip of France, in French Flanders. On the portant role in the life of Paris. France for centuries – and my expec- outdoor market “Marche de Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium, it is the capital of the tations were out of line with the sim- Wazemmes,” one of the largest street Hauts-de-France region and the prefecture of the Nord department. On previous visits, I followed the crowd along the barriers, pushed and shoved plicity of this daily mass. markets in France. As of 2009, Lille had a population of 226,827 within its administrative and urged to keep moving. This time it I tried to focus on the mass which was We followed this with two hours of cul- limits, and an urban population of 1,015,744, making it the fifth larg- felt like a much more genuine experi- est urban area in France after Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse. in French, but the stark contrast of such ture in the Palais des Beaux Arts, a ence. magnificent surroundings and this sim- museum dedicated to fine art, second A former major mechanical, food industry and textile manufacturing ple ceremony brought me back down only to the Louvre in Paris. Then, without any fanfare or even the centre as well as a retail and finance center, Lille forms the heart of a tinkle of a bell, a small priest carrying to earth. Next was a hike to the birth place of larger conurbation, regrouping Lille, Roubaix, Tourcoing and the chalice entered the stalls. I was very glad my walk took me back Charles de Gaulle. Villeneuve d'Ascq, which is France's 4th-largest urban conglomera- tion with a 1999 population of over 1.1 million. He was wearing a plain white cotton to Notre-Dame, and I will cherish the vestment and went to a small table be- memory of that visit.